Create Documentation That Reflects The Quality of Your Work
Publishing an encyclopedia for review need not be time-consuming and tedious. That's why we developed Repository Publisher, a tool that lets you easily create a custom, comprehensive document. Repository Publisher allows quick compilation of integrated text, diagrams, page numbers, indexes and tables of contents, so you can readily respond to needed changes during review sessions. Repository Publisher gives you more control over the content and format of documents-a reflection on the quality of work you put into the encyclopedia.
Produce the Exact Document You Want
Since every COOL:Enterprise user has different reporting requirements, you need formatting flexibility. In some cases, text-only reports that summarize Entities, Attributes and Information Types are adequate. But in many cases, documents that integrate diagrams with text tell a more compelling story. Documents that summarize Entities, Attributes and Information Types by Subject Area, perhaps including an ERD for each Subject Area View, may be needed. The point is, there are as many different reporting requirements as there are COOL:Enterprise users. And, no single COOL:Enterprise report can concisely summarize these precise types of information, let alone include COOL:Enterprise diagrams.
With Repository Publisher, generating a document containing integrated text and graphics is easy. Summarize the exact information you need and nothing more. Period. You can create a single document showing the objects, associations, properties and diagrams you want to see the first time. Diagrams that are concise and readable, annotated and printed together regardless of their orientation. And, since all the information resides in a single document, you don't have to perform manual cross-referencing between reports, nor will you have to manually assemble the document when it is output.
Repository Publisher's "Smart-Box" Diagram Technology
Not all diagram boxes are created equal. That's why we introduced Smart-Box, a technology that understands a lot about your COOL:Enterprise diagrams. With Smart-Box, diagram boxes can be created at the right size, containing all the information you want-and they will always be legible. Smart-Boxes allow Repository Publisher to deliver concise, readable and reproducible information.
Here's what Smart-Box does:
- Understands the diagrams you select (ERD, Data Flow, Decomposition, Mini- Specification, and Association Matrix)
- Never breaks an object name in the middle of a word
- Lets you annotate the diagram boxes using a document specification, giving you full control over the content and format of the box
- Adjusts the diagram box size to the font size you select, the box content you specify, and the flow lines to and from the box
- Evenly spaces the flow lines into boxes and prints flow line text horizontally wherever possible to improve readability
- Overlaps enough information along the vertical and horizontal edges of multi-page diagrams, allowing you to easily reassemble pages
- Provides 'Book Format' association matrices so that row object names are repeated on multiple pages
With Smart-Box technology, page size does not constrain the diagram that is generated. Instead, it automatically adjusts the diagram size according to your formatting. The result is a diagram that is concise, contains all the information you want, and is never so small it can't be read.
Raise the Presentation Quality of Your Document Output
Besides using Smart-Box technology to generate the most useful diagrams possible, Repository Publisher also understands your need to merge diagrams seamlessly with the rest of the document. When documents contain both text and diagram formatting, the diagram is placed next to the text for the related object. This way, you get context-sensitive diagram placement.
Format: Attribute Type.
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Repository Publisher also lets you:
- Mix text and diagrams on the same document page
- Mix portrait and landscape diagram orientations in the same document
- Format a customizable caption for each diagram
- Request text wrapping around the diagram when space permits
- Format more than one diagram for an object
- Include a table of contents, a table of diagrams and an index of objects that is automatically generated for your document
Since Repository Publisher reads your document directly into a word processor, you can add headers, footers, titles or any other formatting you want with ease. Because your document integrates text and diagrams, the page numbers, table of contents, table of diagrams and index are generated for the entire document. As a result, the Repository Publisher document is highly reproducible, letting you respond to last minute changes coming from a review session.
Electronic Publishing Gives You Paperless Distribution of Project Information
Communicating with you users or customers is now easier than ever with Repository Publisher. Not only can you produce custom documents which contain integrated text and diagrams, but you can output this information in multiple ways. In addition to the RTF file which is ultimately output to a paper document, you can also generate a Windows help file, or electronic document. The hypertext output gives you a way to distribute your models in a paperless fashion to your users. As with any help file, the sections are represented as a series of topics that are well organized, easy to open for review, and can be annotated.
Hypertext Output.
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Produce Reusable Document Specifications Using a Graphic User Interface
Repository Publisher requires no programming, letting you build a document through a point-and-click interface. Simply use your mouse to drag and drop COOL:Enterprise object properties onto a report page exactly where you want the information to print. Then select the diagrams you want to include for each selected object type. And, if you want to get really fancy, select some other related information for inclusion in the diagram boxes that are generated.
Document Specification.
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Repository Publisher lets you control the content, sequence and layout of the encyclopedia information. Plus, you can store and share your document specifications-reusing them with other encyclopedias to facilitate future reporting for yourself and co-workers.
Repository Publisher Requirements
Repository Publisher offers a direct interface to most PC word processors. It works with IBM-based word processing programs like Word for Windows 6.0, Word Perfect 6.1 and Ami Pro 3.1 that support Microsoft's Rich Text Format (RTF).
Word and RTF Output.
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Add Design Diagrams to Your Document
A special version of the tool, named Repository Publisher Design, is available that gives you all the capabilities of Repository Publisher described above with the added capability to output design diagrams. The Smart-Box technology allows you to customize the information output inside design diagram object boxes. For example, a Module Action Diagram which displays the sub-modules called by another module can be generated. Supported diagrams include the following:
- Relational Schema Diagram
- Data Schema Diagram
- Data Structure Diagram
- Data Type Set Diagram
- Module Action Diagram
- BMS Map and MFS Screen Diagrams
- Report Layout Diagram
Who Should Use Repository Publisher?
It's the right tool for COOL:Enterprise users who:
- Create strategic planning or analysis documentation from the COOL:Enterprise encyclopedia
- Want to concisely summarize the results of a JAD (Joint Application Design) session recorded in COOL:Enterprise
- Need high-quality documents for review sessions with their customers
- Produce documentation that adheres to organizational standards
- Want to create documents that look sharp and are easy to understand
- Create hypertext documents for electronic distribution of encyclopedia models
- Want custom, consistent documentation from all life cycle phases (i.e., Planning, Analysis and Design)
