PRESS RELEASE
28 February 1997
CEBIT '97, HANOVER, 13 - 19 MARCH 1997, HALL 2, STAND B54
***

New documentation tool allows more efficient processing of large documents

Simple, structured storage and rapid retrieval of documents are increasingly important factors for success in large technical development projects.
The Swedish company Excosoft will be launching a documentation tool, ExcoDocumentor, at the forthcoming CeBIT 97 exhibition at Hanover, Germany. This should increase efficiency in the production and updating of large documents and document archives, at least in part because of its close conformity with the ISO standard SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language).
At the same time, Excosoft will be introducing ExcoConf Multisite, which is an accessibility module for the company’s Configuration Management tool. This makes it possible for geographically separated development groups to have a common archive with document modification control.

‘SGML has been developed by documentation experts to support work on large documents. For the standard to be accessible to ordinary users as well, the tool had to work more simply.’ explained Håkan Lothigius, Product Manager of Excosoft in Stockholm. ‘ExcoDocumentor makes use of the document’s natural structure and is both efficient to work with and simple for the user to understand’.
ExcoDocumentor is intended for use with all types of documents, not only those authored in SGML. It works in parallel with various Document Type Definitions (DTD), HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the internal Exco format, etc. Use of hypertext makes documents of all types more accessible, both via a local network and over the Internet.
It differs from most other SGML authoring tools in that it offers a choice as to whether the text is edited strictly according to the DTD rules, or whether some temporary deviations will be accepted. This simplifies matters during text copying from documents with other DTD rules, or editing within a document. It is also simpler to create new documents using SGML.
‘The technology behind this new documentation tool was developed as far back as the early 80s by the telecommunications company Ericsson’, explained Lothigius. ‘and its predecessor has around 10,000 users including Ericsson, SAAB, Volvo, CelsiusTech, Mannesmann, and the US Air Force. We are now seeking overseas agencies, especially in Germany, Finland, and Norway.’

Separate document archives
The company is also launching ExcoConf Multisite, which is a new module to the company’s tool for version control and Configuration Management (CM). This module allows development groups in different parts of the world to work with a common documentation structure. Information on a new version of a partial structure is directly accessible in any other location. In this way, document access becomes virtually transparent for all users.
/ins


Caption:
ExcoDocumentor simplifies work with large documents. Better overview and the possibility of simple modifications to components are claimed to be a very efficient environment for producing and processing information.

For further information please contact:
Håkan Lothigius
Excosoft AB
Electrum 420
S-164 40 Kista, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 703 91 90
Fax: +46 8 703 94 90
e-mail: hakan.lothigius@excosoft.se
Internet: www.excosoft.se

Press release images