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Using and Customizing MediaWikiUsing and Customizing MediaWikifor Documentation Projectsfor Documentation Projects

Heikki Komulainentcworld Roadshow, May 25, 2009, Helsinki

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Company Company PresentationPresentation

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TheThe Comet GroupComet Group

Comet Computer GmbH Comet Computer GmbH & &

Comet Communication GmbHComet Communication GmbH

Munich, Berlin, Karlsruhe, Berg

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TechnicalCommunication

Leading provider of technical documentation in GermanyFounded 1987Currently with 75 employeesRenowned, long-term clientsWinner of numerous national and international awards

TheThe Comet GroupComet Group

Software Development

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OurOur ServicesServices

ConsultingProject managementContent creationProgrammingSystem configurationLocalizationTraining

Full service for technical communication

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OurOur ProductsProducts

Information architectureAll types of manualsOnline help systemsReady-to-use documentation environmentsTraining materialE-Learning coursesWeb sites

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Comet Comet IsIs a Global a Global PlayerPlayer

We have customer relationships with companies in:Austria, China, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, USA

We have in-house localization departments for:German, English, French, Japanese, Chinese

We work in international teams.

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OurOur CustomersCustomers

Several hundred international companies trust usPublic authorities, banks, insurances, companiesof all industrial sectors

Some major clients (visit www.comet.de for more):

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OurOur PartnersPartners

Comet is sales and training partner of renowned vendors

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Comet Comet IsIs an an ActiveActive MemberMember ofof

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OurOur SkillsSkills

Graphic and Web designers

Documentation experts

Liberal arts academics

IT experts

Comet TeamScientists

Translators

Project managers

Our combination of IT and language skills sets standards.

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A quickA quick overviewoverview ofof Wiki Wiki

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What Is a What Is a WikiWiki??

A wiki is a collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone with access to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language.Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki)

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What Is a What Is a WikiWiki??EDIT

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WikiWiki SoftwareSoftware

Over 200 wiki enginesOpen source and commercialWiki functionality in other types of software

More information:

http://www.wikimatrix.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software

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Productive Uses for a Productive Uses for a WikiWiki

Collaborative writingCommunity software Simplified content management systemKnowledge managementGroupware

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Productive Uses for a Productive Uses for a WikiWiki

CoordinationGuidelinesBrainstorming

Highly dynamic processes InputReview Project management

CollaborationGlossariesArticle collections

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RealReal--Life Example:Life Example:

A Glossary Built with MediaWikiA Glossary Built with MediaWiki

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PurposePurpose

Support collaborative work of a distributed documentation team

Team members working at different locations(different companies, different countries)

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ChallengesChallenges

Enabling access for all team members

Content classificationSeparating glossary and project management

Export to Author-itcontent management system

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Why MediaWiki?Why MediaWiki?

Highly suitable for glossariesEasy to learnEasy to set upSolves some of the challenges (“out-of-the-box”)Fairly easy to extend“Soft security” suitable for the intended use

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SolutionsSolutionsSeparation of different content types Separation of different content types

Built-in namespaces“Main” namespace for actual content“Project” namespace for project organization

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SolutionsSolutionsContentContent classificationclassification

Built-in system for categorizationSemantic MediaWiki (SMW) extensionfor assigning attributes

Enables semantic searchAllows fine-grained export

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SolutionsSolutionsTemplatesTemplates

Ensure consistent layout of articlesMake it easier to start writingSpeed up the writing process

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SolutionsSolutionsExportExport

Built-in XML export lacks formattingCustom-made export to MS-Word

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ResultsResults

Over 700 terms and abbreviations40 status reports and many meeting reportsHappy writersHappy customerWiki is still in active use

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RealReal--Life Example:Life Example:

Collaborative Writing of an Collaborative Writing of an Accreditation ProposalAccreditation Proposal

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PurposePurpose

Support a team of university staff in writing accreditation proposals

Collecting materialApproving material

Export proposals in MS Word formatShorten the time needed for the accreditation process

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ChallengesChallenges

Distributed teamDifficulties finding time for common meetings30 people working on few documentsWiki skeptics

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SolutionSolution

MediaWiki, hosted by CometCategories predefined Initial content addedSome parts of the content modularized Exported with a “bot”

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ResultsResults

Proposals written in 3 months instead of 2 to 3 yearsHigh quality

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ConclusionsConclusions

Save timeBetter quality

Even more time savedLow costs or even freeNot only for limited budgets but also for limited schedule!

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QuestionsQuestions??

www.comet.dewww.comet.de