Adobe Systems has released FrameMaker Version 7.0 with enhanced collaboration and XML authoring features. Version 7.0 now provides the "ability to import, validate, and export XML files and DTDs for 'XML roundtripping'. It supports XML namespaces as a prefix to XML element names when combining content from multiple sources. FrameMaker Version 7.0 supports import and export of XML files containing Unicode (UTF-8/UTF-16) characters, with automatic character mapping for Asian-language printing. V7.0 provides for automatic generation of CSS style definitions for XML files. DocBook 4.1, xDocBook 4.1.2, and XHTML sample applications are now included for structured authoring. Documentation includes a new 'XML Cookbook' manual for learning to work in structured authoring environments. Enhanced collaboration features include support for Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP), WebDAV, and workgroup facilities (shared documents, servers, and folders)."

From the Version 7.0 feature description:

For users new to XML, FrameMaker provides a variety of starter templates that enables them to work with industry-standard xDocBook and xHTML DTDs, mapping XML elements to tables, graphics, footnotes, cross-references and index markers.

FrameMaker 7.0's XML functionality extends to namespaces, CSS files, and Unicode characters. Namespaces are commonly used as a prefix to XML element names, particularly when content is combined from multiple sources. Standards-compliant CSS files can be exported for use with a broad variety of media. Unicode (UTF-8/UTF-16) characters in XML files can be automatically mapped to the appropriate fonts for printing.

Three sample applications for structured authoring are integrated into FrameMaker 7.0: DocBook 4.1, xDocBook 4.1.2, and XHTML. DocBook 4.1 and xDocBook 4.1.2 conform fully to the industry-standard DocBook (SGML) and xDocBook (XML) DTDs for technical documentation. The XHTML sample application conforms to the DTD for the next generation of HTML -- the Extensible HTML version 1.0 transition DTD.

Building on the PDF metadata scheme supported by previous versions of FrameMaker, version 7.0 now supports the XMP (eXtensible Metadata Protocol) standard for describing asset properties to increase their usability in a collaborative production workflow. This enables you to work more effectively with content management systems.

FrameMaker 7.0 software's structured authoring environment eases the process of creating and editing valid XML. You can use Document Type Definitions (DTDs) to define the structure and validity of your content, and format your documents with the context-sensitive styling language provided in FrameMaker (Element Definition Document, or EDD). Read-write rules allow you to map XML elements to document objects such as tables, graphics, footnotes, cross-references, and index markers. You can work on your content in full WYSIWYG mode. Context-sensitive guided editing is provided by the Element Catalog, the Structure View window, and the FrameMaker continuous validation feature. The Element Catalog quickly shows you which elements are valid while you develop your information and navigate the structure of your document. The Structure View window is tightly integrated with the WYSIWYG view, and displays any validity errors as they occur in real time.

You can easily define your own FrameMaker structured applications, which means that FrameMaker automatically picks the right DTD, templates, and settings when you open XML files. This functionality also facilitates 'roundtrip XML'; you can open, edit, and save XML files and DTDs. Parsing engines examine the XML at import to determine whether it is well-formed and to validate the code against the appropriate DTD. After authoring and tagging tasks are complete, you can easily save standards-compliant XML files for further processing. FrameMaker 7.0 includes support for namespaces and Unicode (UTF-8/UTF-16), and can automatically generate CSS style definitions for your XML files.

From the announcement: "By making Extensible Markup Language (XML) easier to use, FrameMaker version 7.0 software allows corporations to take advantage of XML's ability to search, share and repurpose content across the enterprise. The new XML capabilities provide a comprehensive network publishing platform, allowing content creators to distribute information to multiple channels, including print, the Web and PDAs. Also announced today is the new Adobe FrameMaker Server, which gives companies the ability to produce personalized, data-driven content for output to print or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)."