You're a publications manager with a small team and a lot of legacy content that you want to move into the DITA standard. You've heard that it may be cost-effective and a time savings to convert your legacy content automatically. You recognize that you might have some "clean-up" to do after the conversion, but you're not sure how much work will be required.
Learn from Dr. JoAnn Hackos, President of Comtech Services, Inc. and Director of the Center for Information-Development Management (CIDM), how to evaluate your legacy content and assess how close you are to the DITA standard. Understand the decision-making process you need to follow to prepare for the conversion process. Consider if your team should first restructure your content in your current tool environment or wait to restructure and rewrite following conversion.
Learn from Mark Gross, President of Data Conversion Laboratory, about DCL's specification process and how to prepare for the best possible conversion experience. Learn about the kinds of things that you should consider in advance, and the kinds of preparations you can make in order to make the changeover process easier with no surprises.
About Dr. JoAnn Hackos
Dr. JoAnn Hackos is President of Comtech Services, a content-management and information-design firm based in Denver, Colorado, which she founded in 1978. She is Director of the Center for Information-Development Management (CIDM), a membership organization focused on content-management and information-development best practices. Dr. Hackos and colleagues are called upon by corporate executives worldwide to consult on strategies for content management, development and organizational management, product interface design, customer studies, Web and traditional information architecture, and tools and technology selection.
For more than 33 years, Dr. Hackos has addressed audiences internationally on subjects ranging from content management, project management, effective interfaces and information, minimal information products, usability testing, and online and Web-based information, to managing the information design and development process. Her workshops are dedicated to enhancing the practices and products that will best promote customer satisfaction.
About Mark Gross
Mark Gross, President of Data Conversion Laboratory (DCL), is a recognized authority on XML implementation and document conversion. Founded in 1981, DCL is a leader in developing many techniques and tools to simplify document transfer and conversion through evolving technologies. Mark has a BS in Engineering from Columbia University and an MBA from New York University. He has also taught at the New York University Graduate School of Business, the New School, and Pace University and is a frequent speaker on XML implementation.