[Sigia-l] multidoctype publishing: from Visio and Word: sugg estions?

[Anders Ramsay]

Why do go to all the trouble of saving the files as GIFs when you can just
embed the native Visio object (copy and paste) into Word, which will retain
all the features of the original and look much cleaner when you  print?

In fact, I've written several large documents (200+ pages) with similar
content.  While not ideal, I simply embedded the Visio objects in the word
doc, which allows for editing them within the word doc, or the embedded
object can also be linked to the original Visio file (a little more work.)
And printing Word docs as PDF files is pretty straightforward (1 click for
me.)

However, like Rhonda says, it is a bit of a hodge-podge, but I think the
real solution is XML-based.  Both Visio and Word files can be in XML format,
and XML, of course, can be pretty much be ported to any domain, including
PDF files.  This leads me to a question for the group:

Is anyone aware of applications that will allow for XML-based integrated
documentation?  In other words, something in which I define functional
requirements once and can then represent the data in multiple forms and
domains?  I've been working on something in XMLSpy toward this end, but it's
becoming quite a challenge...

-Anders

On 7/29/02 4:32 PM, Fiorito, David at DFiorito at IKON.com wrote:

> I usually save the Viso diagrams as GIFs and imbed them in the DOC.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Dave
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhonda Nelson [mailto:retreux at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 4:27 PM
> To: sigia-l at asis.org
> Subject: [Sigia-l] multidoctype publishing: from Visio and Word:
> suggestions?
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm working on a 100 page deliverable in Acrobat PDF
> that includes Word doc, flows and wireframes in Visio
> interspersed.
> 
> I want printed pagination so we bought the Impress
> plugin.
> 
> We want a Table of Contents so I am building that in
> Word.
> 
> As you can see, the process is a bit makeshift, but
> seemingly the best way, but its not extremely robust
> or easy for the documentor to make changes later.
> 
> Has anyone used another software that does the
> following in a seamless way:
> Combining different types of docs into one (Visio,
> Word at least)
> Easy printing of different sized pages (PDF does this
> well.)
> Automatic page numbering updates (that prints)
> Build a Table of contents on the fly.
> Allows updating within (or outside with easy importing
> to automatically build the TOC and page numbering)
> 
> Or, does anyone know when Acrobat is going to be able
> to fulfill the needs of basic document publishing? :)
> 
> Please respond to me and I will report back to the
> group.
> 
> Thanks,
> Rhonda
> 
> 
> =====
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>  \o)/   retreux at yahoo.com                  ***
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