Are docs apps?

Application logic is being embedded into documents, changing the nature of static files. That's the view of Jake Sorofman, vice president of marketing and business development for Tokyo-based JustSystems Inc. He points to manuals used by airport ground crews whose documentation changes as temperatures drop and de-icing procedures are called for. He also suggests that role-based access to portions of files is another example of how once-static files have become dynamic documents and, effectively, applications. XML is the primary force behind this shift to think of docs as apps. To further that trend, Sorofman says JustSystems, which he says is the largest Japanese software vendor, will upgrade its XMetaL Author Enterprise product to make it easier for non-technical writers to create dynamic, XML-rich files. Sorofman says XMetaL 5.1 lets novice technical writers produce documents "in topic-oriented, XML chunks" that conform to the Oasis Darwin Information Typing Architecture standard, which fosters efficient reuse and interplay of content. Sorofman says, JustSystems wants to "embed the culture of XML to all content authors." Available January 21, XMetaL 5.1 starts at $1,195 per user.