Documentation format control

[MMI]

We use EA to generate documentation that is baselined (version controlled), and delivered to the customer. I am concerned that the structure of the generated document is currently dependent on the version of EA used. A year from now we may generate a new document, but the format could be completely different due to changes made to the EA RTF generator.

Is there any way of separating the RTF document format generated by EA from the version of EA being used, i.e. extend the current template concept to cover not only the content but also the layout and format of the generated document.

M

[gsparks]

Hi,

You have a valid point - and one that I have considered from time to time. Im not sure of the answer. Providing more control over the format may help - but I feel that it could still suffer from 'incremental changes' as time goes on. There is also the issue of additional element details being added to the structure and output altering the content.

I suppose the RTF generator could be versioned at each major release and the ability to produce output in a previous versions style made possible.

Another option would be to use the XMI output directly in Word to create documents to your own standards. You would have full control over the look and feel in that case.

I will see what can be done to help,

Geoff Sparks

[MMI]

Thanks for the prompt reply.

"I suppose the RTF generator could be versioned at each major release and the ability to produce output in a previous versions style made possible." - this would certainly avoid the documentation problems that I was concerned about.

M