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Authoring MIL-STD Technical Manuals (XML and SGML)

Upcoming deliveries

*All times Pacific/US

No open dates? Looking for training in a different MIL-STD? Prefer a specific time and date or private delivery? You don't have to wait. Contact a Training Advisor to schedule a delivery that meets your needs.

About this training course

Overview

In this multi-session workshop, we guide you from unstructured authoring through structured authoring in a generic architecture to reach a common proficiency with the tool. This course is a combination of lectures mixed with examples and hands-on exercises. Once the basics are understood, we add instruction in one of the MIL-STD doctypes (38784, 3001, 40051, etc.). Some monitored class time is reserved for homework and additional assistance in completing course tasks each day. Repetition and homework, over time, help solidify concepts and skills for adult learners.

Prerequisite

Attendees must have previous experience with Arbortext Editor or have completed our Arbortext Editor Basic Training. Training for this class is done in Arbortext Editor using a derivative of the custom directory from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command's Publication Services Division at the Redstone Arsenal, updated for the latest version of Arbortext.

How do you access the software?

You do not need to purchase Arbortext to attend this class, nor do you need to sign up for a free trial license. Students connect through a standard web browser to access a virtual desktop that already has the software installed.

Where is the class held?

We offer both public and private deliveries, either fully remote or in-person. Regardless of the delivery style, all workshops are led by a live, online expert instructor, making for a fully interactive and engaging experience.

Virtual Public Deliveries are held online and, when you share your screen, it's just as if we're just like we're standing behind you and looking over your shoulder. All students can speak and hear each other and the instructor during lecture and hands-on lab exercises. The only difference between this class and in-person? No travel costs.

Private deliveries can be held virtually using your environment, on-site at your facility or at a location nearby. Contact a training advisor to discuss specific requirements.

Training Topics

Our training sessions are highly interactive and engaging. All sessions are designed to be hands-on using standard, out-of-the-box Arbortext Editor. Training includes a combination of the following topics. All training is done through hands-on exercises to increase adoption and solidify learning.

Any instance of this workshop focuses on one MIL-STD for training in the specification itself as well as authoring best practices in Arbortext Editor.

  • Introduction to authoring for defense
  • Typical project requirements
  • Creating documents, work packages, modules, etc
  • Understanding a specific version of MIL-STD (38784, 3001, 40051, etc). 
    • Elements and attributes
    • Publishing requirements
    • Style/authoring guidance
  • Cross-References and linking
  • Collaboration, content management, shared authoring
  • Resources and navigating the specification

JANICE SUMMERS, Single-Sourcing Solutions, specializes in helping people who’ve only ever used unstructured desktop publishing applications learn structured authoring. She graduated with a degree in I/O Psychology from San Jose State University and finds that her background helps adult learners in mastering new material. In fact, she’s been successfully transitioning Word users to XML authoring since 2005 and hasn’t lost anyone yet! She's the author of “Arbortext for Authoring: An Author's Guide to Getting Started with Arbortext Editor” (available on Amazon).

LIZ FRALEY, Single-Sourcing Solutions, is a long-time Arbortext user, customizer, stylesheet developer, and implementer. In addition to being a senior software architect, she is the founder of Single-Sourcing Solutions, a qualified, experienced trainer of Arbortext Products. She has over 25 years experience programming, teaching, and supporting knowledge growth in the communities she serves. She holds degrees in Computer Science and English from the University of Maryland College Park and a Masters in English from the University of Southern Mississippi. She's the author of “Arbortext 101: Best Practices for Configuring, Authoring, Styling, and Publishing with Arbortext,” available on Amazon, and has several more planned.

What attendees have said

“Thank you very much for teaching the class, providing the teaching aids, and for having such down-to-earth, open, communication styles.”

“Your patience and willingness to ensure we learned the information and received a good foundation was recognized and much appreciated.”

“I tried to take this training last year from someone else and it was a mess! I have learned so much this time.”

“Thank you so much. This is the best training I have received from the Navy. So many are filled with boring slides but this was fun and informative”

“Thank you so much for the great class. I really appreciate your humor!”

“Thank you for all your help and all the laughs! It’s been a fun and informative 2 and half days.”

“I am taking over 7 other programs that some of the students in our current class belong to. I have told all of my peers that everyone needs to take this class! Thanks!  Both of you stay safe and keep doing what you do!”

Spontaneous feedback from students in our Arbortext Basics class 2022

Various ranks and responsibilities, US Navy