DITA support and time-saving shortcuts featured in first two Codex updates
TORONTO, Canada — July 5, 2011
Codex Systems today announced the release of Version 1.2 of Codex®, the groundbreaking editor that enables anyone to author XML-based DITA content easily and affordably. The update, available free to existing customers, provides support for Note, Codeblock, and Codeph elements and includes a number of time-saving features originally released in Version 1.1. A free trial is also available.
Version 1.2 is the second update of Codex since its debut just three months ago. The first update, released in June, featured shortcuts for creating lists, find and replace within topics, vastly improved drag-and-drop within maps, and the ability to alphabetically sort topicrefs.
Unlike most DITA editors, which have complex interfaces and require users to manipulate a strict hierarchy of XML tags, Codex is as simple as any rich text editor. Authors can type and apply styles to text without the need for special training.
“With the release of Codex 1.0, people are seeing DITA in a whole new light,” explained Adam Kozyniak, co-founder of Codex Systems. “DITA doesn’t have to be complex. It can be quite simple and at the same time incredibly valuable.”
By releasing frequent updates, Codex Systems is demonstrating its commitment to making DITA authoring easier than ever and to providing increasing support for DITA features in Codex. Subsequent updates will continue to be released about once every month or two.
DITA for Everyone
Codex enables subject matter experts to contribute content directly to DITA publishing processes, eliminating the need for technical writers to copy and paste content from emails, wiki pages, or Microsoft® Word documents. Codex can also help organizations leverage their existing DITA infrastructure and eliminate redundant authoring and publishing systems, by enabling more types of people to author more types of content in DITA. And for organizations without any existing DITA infrastructure, Codex combined with a third-party DITA publishing system represents an inexpensive and low risk solution for efficient document production.
About DITA
DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is an open standard XML format that lets authors write content in small topic files and assemble those topics into larger documents. By re-using topics within multiple documents and across multiple departments, organizations can publish content much more efficiently than using traditional word processing or desktop publishing software.
Originally developed by IBM® for technical publications in 2001, DITA is used within a growing number of industries for various types of documents. Most recently OASIS® (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards), the organization that now governs the DITA standard, has been exploring DITA’s applicability to pharmaceutical content, learning and training content, machine industry documentation, semiconductor documentation, enterprise business documents, and technical standards.
Codex and Adobe AIR
Codex was developed for use with Adobe® AIR®, a cross-platform runtime environment for desktop applications that are based on Web technologies like HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash®, and ActionScript®. Most computer systems already have Adobe AIR installed, making the requirements for Codex very modest. And being cross-platform, Adobe AIR offers the potential for Codex to run on a wide-range of operating systems and devices, although the current version of Codex is only available for Microsoft Windows® and Mac OS X.
Pricing and Availability
Codex single-user licenses are available now for $99 US per year. A free trial version of Codex is also available. Codex runs on most Windows and Mac systems, with support for other platforms coming soon.
About Codex Systems
Founded in 2010, Codex Systems is dedicated to producing tools that help organizations realize the cost-saving potential of DITA authoring and publishing. Codex Systems is located in Toronto, Canada.
Web site: www.codex-systems.ca
Contact
Adam Kozyniak
Co-founder and CEO
Codex Systems Inc.
102 Deforest Road
Toronto, Ontario
M6S 1J4
Canada
media@codex-systems.ca
Codex is a registered trademark of Codex Systems Inc. Other company or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
