Industry Day May 6, 2008 Composition System Replacement (CSR)

Agenda 8:00-8:30Arrive at GPO 8:30-9:00Welcome and Session ObjectivesScott Stovall 9:00-9:25Background of GPO and Vision for CSRKirk Knoll 9:25-9:50Input Types Discussion Kirk Knoll 9:50-10:15Content and Processing DiscussionMatt Landgraf 10:15-10:30Break 10:30-10:50Layout Discussion Kirk Knoll 10:50-11:15User Interface Discussion Matt Landgraf 11:15-11:35Output Discussion Kirk Knoll 11:35-NoonNext stepsKirk Knoll

GPO CSR Panel Joel Reeves Lyle Green Dannie Young Dave Robare Matt Landgraf Kirk Knoll

Session Objectives Provide industry with enough data and background to effectively respond to the material noted in the RFI Explain the desired functionality identified by GPO Provide an open forum for GPO and industry to discuss these areas and GPO’s challenges

RFI Objectives To obtain industry feedback Assessment of materials Include white papers, and other industry best practices Budgetary To understand possible technology roadmaps– through capability statements. Is COTS support available? (Requirements matrix) How soon will COTS support be available?

GPO’s Composition Background May 6, 1972—birth of Microcomp….. GPO developed Used to compose Congressional and Agency documents GPO locator codes Typesetting specific codes used to compose data Approximately 700 utilities have been developed to enhance and sustain Microcomp

Motivations for Change To improve workflow processes To improve search and retrieval through the use of XML Seamlessly accept, compose, and output XML Reduce GPO’s dependency on a system: not based on industry standard data model with limited or no IT support

Systems at GPO - The 3 Pillars each with a portfolio of initiatives Business Information Systems Digital Content Systems Digital Production Systems Example of Programs in Pillar: Composition Systems Replacement, FDsys Example of Programs in Pillar: Oracle, Retail Sales Upgrade, Web Time and Attendance Example of Programs in Pillar: Manufacturing Workflow Systems A portfolio of program and project initiatives are coordinated for each of the three GPO systems

GPO Mission To provide the three branches of the Federal Government with expert publishing and printing services. To provide perpetual, free and ready public access to the printed and electronic information published by the Federal Government in partnership with Federal Depository libraries. To distribute, on a cost recovery basis, printed and electronic copies of information published by the Federal Government.

ConOps and RD Development ConOps – Refreshed April 2008 Requirements Document – Refreshed April 2008 Developed in collaboration with all user groups GPO Plant and IT&S Congressional Users House and Senate Agency Users

CSR RD Areas Input Data Content and Processing Character Formatting Layout Output User Interface

Input Types The Composition System Replacement (CSR) will be the central point for composition of content that is intended for print and internet access. CSR will have the capability to accept input data for composition in current formats that are submitted by users, including XML, SGML, XML/SGML hybrids, Locator Files, and hybrids.

Characteristics of Input Types Optimum scenario is to move to an XML based workflow. The assumption is there will be a long transition period during which the legacy formats will have to be supported. Transition period is driven by our content originators. GPO receives multiple input types for one publication type Bills are 95% XML, 5% locators. GPO currently converts XML to locators. The goal is to be able to compose the native XML files.

Conversion Challenges Converting files with locators to XML And sometimes back to locators

Content and Processing Publications that are printed using composition engines are comprised of many different document components: Text: often output as two or more columns on a single page, and CSR must support these requirements. Tables: includes all formatting and display requirements that pertain to individual tables and tables that span multiple columns and pages Graphics and Equations: includes embedded and linked

Content and Processing (con’t) Continuation Indicators: indicators that a document component has been continued from one page to the next or from one column to the next Indices (Indexes) and Table of Contents Side Notes: denote cross-references to sections of other publications. Footnotes: includes composition of sequential numeric footnotes and symbolic footnote patterns

Characteristics of Content & Processing Content from one publication has to be repurposed for other formats. GPO currently tags once and reuses the data in multiple products and formats. For example: Bills and the Bills printed in the Congressional Record Federal Register and the CFR Managing various input types and workflows. Composition of multiple publication fragments.

Layout CSR will: Conform to distinctive formatting requirements for documents that are printed by GPO, including the Congressional Record, Congressional Bills, and Federal Register. Automate the placement of content within a publication. Use publication specific settings during composition. Apply multiple sets of publication specific settings to the same document Allow authorized users to override publication specific settings.

Layout (con’t) Printed publications composed by GPO often require specific formatting of characters, text, tables, and columns: Change formatting Font styling Text alignment Tracking Adjusting of character width Kerning Drop Caps and Raised Caps Special and Unicode Characters Composite Characters Leaders Horizontal and Vertical Fixed Spacing

Authoring Tools GPO currently uses XMetal Textpad

Tables May span from one page to multiple May be portrait or landscape May be1 column or may exceed 15 columns Many levels of box heads Once a table has been coded it can be repurposed. Includes capability to apply new style. Must accept many input types for tables including SGML and XML.

Nested Box Head Table

Table Without Down Rules

Characteristics of Layout CSR will need to be capable of printing complex multi-page tables. The volume of work GPO produces requires that CSR be an automated batch process. A manual process would not be effective in GPO’s workflow. GPO composes and produces publications daily under strict deadlines.

User Interface Windows-based Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and workbenches are key components of CSR. Workbenches for internal and external user classes will allow users to access toolsets and perform authorized functions according to user roles, access rights, and privileges.

User Interface (con’t) Users will be permitted to apply and modify processing instructions through the user interface. The system will provide the capability for administrators to customize default GUIs and workbenches for all user classes. The system must conform to best practices, standards, and guidelines regarding usability for GUI design.

Characteristics of User Interface The user interface will allow users to preview their composition work and have access to an editor to modify source documents. The system must provide error identification, location, severity, and notification.

Output Includes all the processes and capabilities necessary for CSR to render files that can be used for creating printed and digital output. CSR will be able to produce output in PostScript, XML, PDF, locator tagged files, and HTML. The system shall also allow users to specify output options, including duplex printing and Galley and Page mode rendering options. The system must also be capable of re-composing pages and frames after corrections are made to content. Must be able to limit the effect of a particular change as to not require changes to the flow of a complete document. The system will also be capable of outputting content to multiple printing devices and distributing the output on several devices simultaneously.

Characteristics of Output The system must be able to insert processing instructions (e.g. line and page breaks, page and line numbers) within the native document file. The system must be able to print information outside the page margins (e.g. job identifiers, file name, operator name, date and time).

Integration CSR needs to be integrated with existing pre-processing and post-processing applications, including: Authoring tools/Text editors (e.g., XMetaL, Xywrite, TextPad, word processors, MathType) Translation tools and Conversion programs Acrobat Distiller Bound Record indexing process Other electronic distribution utilities (e.g., add hot links) Productivity Management systems

Next Steps - White Papers and Capability Statements Vendors who are interested in any or all of the solution sets must submit a packet of material which includes: Capability statement White Paper that: Addresses gaps between current technology and areas. Addresses any concerns with CSR documentation. Provides technology roadmaps, with timelines for notional area support. Budgetary estimates along with estimated implementation timelines and effort. All documents due by The complete list of requested materials, due dates and instructions are noted in the published RFI at These instructions must be followed for consideration.

Session Objectives Provide industry with enough data and understanding to effectively respond to the material noted in the RFI Explain the desired functionality identified by GPO Provide an open forum for GPO and industry to discuss these areas and GPO’s challenges

RFI Objectives To obtain industry feedback Assessment of materials Include white papers, and other industry best practices Budgetary To understand possible technology roadmaps– through capability statements. Is COTS support available? (Requirements matrix) How soon will COTS support be available?

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