If you are planning to convert content for your new applications there are several options available, and as with any new endeavor, also a few traps. If you’re new to the world of content conversion, it can also be confusing. Data Conversion Laboratory has created this new series to outline and review the issues that may affect your data conversion projects. The series will also include tips to help you make every dollar count, and ensure that the conversion solution that you select does what you really need it to do at the end of the road.

This first installment outlines the topics that will be covered in upcoming issues. Each future installment will focus on a single area, summarizing the relevant issues, providing guidelines on which factors are important to you, laying out the cost implications, and providing references for additional information.

If there are other topics you'd like covered, or questions answered, please write us at convert@dclab.com.

1. XML, HTML & SGML - the basics
   1. What's markup - and why would you want it
   2. What's the difference between XML and SGML
   3. Where does HTML fit in
   4. What's a DTD? What's an XSD; and why would you want one
   5. What's a Stylesheet?
      
      
2. Is XML for everyone?
   1. Does everyone need a markup language?
   2. What are the alternatives
   3. When don't you need XML
   4. When do you need XML
      
      
3. Special requirement for specialized industries
   1. Why do different industries need their own DTD's and XSD's
   2. Overview of specialized DTD's and XSD's
   3. What's a taxonomy and why you might want one
      
      
4. Conversions for Military Applications
   1. Overview
   2. Common DTD's in the military environment
   3. What is S1000d, and why is it different than other conversions
   4. Special requirements and how they impact costs
      
      
5. Types of source materials and their impact costs
   1. Paper vs. electronic
   2. Different kinds of electronic
   3. The various flavors of PDF
   4. Legibility of images
   5. Reliability - is it the right version
      
      
6. Types of conversion targets and how they impact costs
   1. Non-XML
   2. Traditional XML DTD's
   3. Content-based DTD's
      1. When the source doesn't fit the target
      2. The need for expert knowledge
         
         
7. Graphics and Images
   1. Not all images are created equal
   2. Raster vs. vector graphics - and what are they
   3. Graphic functionality vs. Costs
      
      
8. Planning
   1. Putting the pieces together
   2. How long should it take
   3. What are the tradeoffs
   4. Developing the plan
   5. Gathering your resources