Industry Day

May 6, 2008

Composition System Replacement (CSR)

Agenda8:00-8:30 Arrive at GPO

8:30-9:00 Welcome and Session Objectives Scott Stovall

9:00-9:25 Background of GPO and Vision for CSR Kirk Knoll

9:25-9:50 Input Types Discussion Kirk Knoll

9:50-10:15 Content and Processing Discussion Matt Landgraf

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-10:50 Layout Discussion Kirk Knoll

10:50-11:15 User Interface Discussion Matt Landgraf

11:15-11:35 Output Discussion Kirk Knoll

11:35-Noon Next steps Kirk 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 InformationSystems

Digital ContentSystems

Digital ProductionSystems

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 www.gpo.gov/compsys.htm. 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?

Contact Information• PMO@gpo.gov• www.gpo.gov/compsys.htm