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Episode 13Episode 13Storage Options for XML ContentStorage Options for XML Content

Su-Laine Yeo, Solutions Consultant

in 37 minutes

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• XMetaL Author Enterprise 6.0 is now available in Japanese

• XMetaL Reviewer 6.0 available at promotional pricing until December 31, 2010

What’s NewWhat’s New

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• Complicated to understand and test

• XMetaL works with a wide variety of options– We don’t have any particular

favorite

• A vendor-neutral expert consultant can really help– Can’t explain everything

today

Content storage optionsContent storage options

Photo: Marcus Gossler

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• Does the system address the risk of edit conflicts?

• Can I roll back to an earlier version of my document?– Is the versioning model compatible with linking?

• What is the cost?

Some common requirementsSome common requirements

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1. Just the Windows file system

2. Windows file system with WebDAV

3. Subversion repository

4. Content management system with dedicated XMetaL bridge

5. Content management system without dedicated XMetaL bridge

Five optionsFive options

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WINDOWS FILE SYSTEMWINDOWS FILE SYSTEM

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• High risk of edit conflicts

• No version history– Links broken if you save a file with a new name

• Cost: free

Windows File SystemWindows File System

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Just the Windows file system:• Can be OK if you only have one person

working on any particular set of files

• More popular than it should be

Who uses it?Who uses it?

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WINDOWS FILE SYSTEM AND WINDOWS FILE SYSTEM AND WEBDAVWEBDAV

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• A protocol for transmitting data between computers

• Developed in 1996 to allow editing files stored on web servers

• Also known as “web folders”

• “Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning” – but no versioning

What is WebDAV?What is WebDAV?

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• Edit conflicts:– If you open a file, it is locked automatically– Second person can open the file, but will get an error

message if they try to save– Lock is released when you close the file

• No version history

• Cost: free

Windows file system and Windows file system and WebDAVWebDAV

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• On the server: Install web server software such as IIS or Apache, and designate a folder as a WebDAV folder

• On your local machine: Map the WebDAV folder to a drive letter– Directly in Windows: right-click My Computer icon– Or optionally, use WebDrive ($60,

http://www.webdrive.com)

WebDAV with XMetaLWebDAV with XMetaL

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Mapping a http:// address to Mapping a http:// address to a drive lettera drive letter

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Accessing content in the Accessing content in the web folder from XMetaLweb folder from XMetaL

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The Windows file system and WebDAV:

• Lack of version history is a big drawback

• Not supported for DITA documents in XMetaL Author Enterprise– 3rd-party components such as the DITA Open Toolkit

do not work over WebDAV

• Doesn’t seem to be a popular option

Who uses it?Who uses it?

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SUBVERSIONSUBVERSION

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A free, open-source revision control system1. Install Subversion on a server

2.Use the free TortoiseSVN application to copy folders or files from the server to your local machine when you need to work on them

3.Subversion does its magic when you use TortoiseSVN to copy files back to the server

What is Subversion?What is Subversion?

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• Edit conflicts:– You are alerted about edit conflicts,

and given the option to merge files

• Version history is kept– Links always refer to the latest

version of the file

• Requires downloading whole folders to the local machine

• Cost: free

Subversion with Subversion with TortoiseSVNTortoiseSVN

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Subversion:

• Customer feedback indicates users are generally happy

• If you don’t have complex folder structures

• If merging changes is an OK way to handle edit conflicts

• If you don’t need a CMS, or can’t get one yet

Who uses it?Who uses it?

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CMS WITH DEDICATED CMS WITH DEDICATED BRIDGEBRIDGE

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Possible features:

• Check-in/check-out

• Version history

• Workflow

• Search

• Security model

• Keeping track of localized content

• Server-side automated publishing

What is a CMS?What is a CMS?

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• Also known as an “adapter”, “connector” or “integration”

• Enables the authoring tool to read and write to the CMS instead of to the Windows file system– Works smoothly with the version history features of the CMS

• Sold and supported by either the CMS vendor or the authoring tool vendor

• Supports specific version(s) of the CMS and the authoring tool

What is a CMS bridge?What is a CMS bridge?

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Integration of CMS search and Integration of CMS search and properties dialogs into XMetaLproperties dialogs into XMetaL

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Full list at Full list at http://forums.http://forums.xmetal.comxmetal.com

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• Edit conflicts:– In general, only one person can

have a file open for editing at a time

• Version history is kept– In general, links refer to the latest

version of the file– Some CMSs give you the option to

link to a specific version

• Cost: $ to $$$$

CMS with dedicated bridgeCMS with dedicated bridge

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CMS with dedicated bridge:

• Around half of XMetaL customers

• Essential for big teams

Who uses it?Who uses it?

Photo: Luke1ace

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CMS WITHOUT A BRIDGECMS WITHOUT A BRIDGE

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• Check out a file using the CMS user interface, and download it to your local file system

• Upload it back to the CMS and check it in when you’re done

• Edit conflicts and version history: Handled by the CMS

• Cost: $ to $$$$

CMS without a dedicated bridge,CMS without a dedicated bridge,via the local file systemvia the local file system

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• WebDAV is not designed for this!

• Edit conflicts:– Varies by CMS, but generally uses WebDAV-style file

locking rather than stable check-out

• Version history:– Varies by CMS. Editing a file may or may not result in

creation of a new version.

• Cost: $ to $$$$

CMS without a dedicated CMS without a dedicated bridge, via WebDAVbridge, via WebDAV

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CMS without a dedicated bridge:• If you need to use a particular CMS and it doesn’t have a

dedicated XMetaL bridge

• If using WebDAV:– Test whether versioning and locking work properly– Consider possible security issues – Not recommended for DITA users

• Does not seem to be a popular option

Who uses it?Who uses it?

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SUMMARYSUMMARY

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• In general– CMS with dedicated XMetaL bridge

• If all you need is a version history and management of occasional edit conflicts– Subversion with TortoiseSVN

Best optionsBest options

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• Tuesday October 19, 2010. Watch for an announcement at http://forums.xmetal.com.

Next 37-minute webinarNext 37-minute webinar

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• Global Presence

– 700 employees, ‘08 revenues of $135M.

– HQ in Japan; Corporate Offices in Vancouver and EMEA.

• Our Experience

– Established in 1979.

– Market leader with over 2,500 customers.

• Our Expertise

– Global provider of office productivity, information

management, consumer & enterprise software.

– Framework for XML-based DITA content creation, integration,

visualization and delivery.

• Our Credibility

– Gartner “Cool Vendor” in CM 2008.

– KM World “100 Companies that Matter” 2008 and 2009.

– eContent 100 2007, 2008, 2009

– IBM CTO Innovation Award 2006.

2,500 Customers,Marquee Brands

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