Well-Formed Document Workflow

Scribe's Well-Formed Document Workflow (WFDW) is a combination of methodology and technology that assures your publication is produced efficiently today, while unquestionably guaranteeing its future viability. The WFDW operates in the normal editorial and production processes and enables you to:

  • Save time and money—by working efficiently, you complete projects in less time, using less effort.
  • Create XML no matter who you are—because the WFDW is intuitive and easy to learn, you only need basic computer skills to use it.
  • Avoid purchasing new software or systems—the WFDW uses programs like Microsoft Word, QuarkXPress, and InDesign.
  • Create print and e-books simultaneously—the WFDW automates output for print and electronic.
  • Reduce errors—the WFDW automates repetitive tasks and allows people to focus on editorial and production.
  • Develop archive-ready files—WFDW files are well-formed and non-proprietary, thus they can be stored in any system and never become outdated.
  • Increase profit—the WFDW allows you to output publications in many formats, thus creating additional products and revenue.

What the Well-Formed Document Workflow Is

WFDW is an adaptable system of procedures and programs that facilitates the editorial and production process. WFDW works using common programs to publish any kind of material including: scientific, medical, reference, and multilingual publications. WFDW is intuitive and can be used by anyone who can use a computer and Microsoft Word.

WFDW can function within all of the systems that publishers use and can be customized to output files for any regular mark-up scheme or content management system.

How the Well-Formed Document Workflow Works

Without requiring special coding, the WFDW uses the copyeditor's role of delineating structure as the basis for creating a well-formed document. Once a publication is a well-formed document, computer technology is employed to automate the movement from one format to another. Because the WFDW functions at every stage, you only have one document stream. Thus, you never lose any alteration to the content. Publications can be altered at any stage, repurposed, or reissued. The WFDW allows for topic tags, key words, hyperlinks, cross-references, and other augmentation.

Advantages of the Well-Formed Document Workflow

There are many advantages to our approach. Primarily, WFDW enables publishers to create a variety of text formats from one document. This eliminates the cost of editing, designing, composing, and setting each version individually. The WFDW brings efficiency that results in decreased editorial and production costs. And the price to produce a typeset version along with complimentary electronic versions is low. Our method also allows the design of a book to remain consistent across platforms.

The Well-Formed Document Workflow is an efficient approach to multipurpose publishing that makes the most of commonly used tools; it is not proprietary; and it allows the publisher to have control over the book manufacturing process. Equally important, WFDW is flexible and functions within your current editorial and production processes. Implementing WFDW is the introduction of an efficient, long-lasting use of electronic tools, and the protection of the intellectual and artistic craft of specialized book manufacturing.