What is XML?
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a widely used language for attaching metadata to content. Using XML allows you to attach information about structure, styling, and more directly to the content it pertains to. Best of all, the information you attach can carry over to whatever format—or formats—your content ends up in. That’s where XML-first comes in.
What is an XML First Workflow and Why Should You Use One?
As you may have guessed, an XML first workflow is a workflow that begins with XML content, or adds XML to its content very early in the pipeline. And the benefits for both print and digital publishing are massive.
Working with XML content early in the process makes adapting different formats much easier and more consistent, because you can be sure that the metadata used is the same. And you can include important information in the metadata, such as the placement of page breaks. Things like structure, style, and chunking are also easily tracked and synced through all of your formats.
Incorporating metadata early on in the process also makes editing easier. Edits can be made (and tracked) directly in the XML. Authors of print works love it, too, because they can see a rendering of exactly how their content will look in print—while it’s still in the editing process.
The shift to an XML first workflow can initially be a challenging undertaking. But, as many publishers have found out, it is more than worth the growing pains. Not sure how to get the ball rolling? Logictran and its experts have an enormous wealth of information on the subject. Contact us today!