HOMECONTACT US

Typical Conversion Methodologies

Manual tagging

Hand tagging can be useful for small volumes of diverse materials, where manual effort is inevitable. Disadvantages, however, are:

  • It is easy to introduce errors into the conversion process.
  • Significant post-conversion review and editing will generally be required
  • It is extremely resource-intensive
  • It can involve a lengthy turnaround time

Scripting software

There are many scripting options, from open source, to off-the-shelf, to industrial strength server engines. They all share the same disadvantages:

  • The input material must be consistent
    • Scripting relies on rigid conformance to formatting styles in the original word processor document
    • Human authors generally do not create documents so consistently, and low-quality XML output can result
  • Development and maintenance of scripts requires custom programming for:
    • Each type of document
    • Each proprietary application that is used to create those documents
    • Every time the authoring product version changes
    • Every format change

Outsourcing

Conversion service companies produce XML output either manually, or in combination with scripting software, facing the same challenges. Outsourced conversion costs can therefore be augmented by the upfront development of a detailed conversion specification, and QA resource for the delivered XML. Direct control over turnaround times is also reduced.

Exegenix Conversion Solutions

Exegenix technology combines the automation and speed of scripted conversion with the intelligent analysis of hand tagging.

Compared to manual conversion, Exegenix technology is:

  • Accurate
  • Fast
  • Minimizes human resource requirements

Compared to scripted conversion, Exegenix technology has:

  • No dependency on consistently-applied formatting
  • No configuration scripts to develop/maintain

More Info

Refresher

Context

Videos