Aircraft Documentation Suite
(ARDOS)

The Initial Situation

In aviation documentation, the use of structured documentation has developed from a visionary technology of the future to an indispensable basic requirement. Terms such as SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language) have long been part of standard know-how and have become an integral part of the industry. However, these standards are combined with numerous challenges that companies have to overcome on a day-to-day basis. The data should not only be precise, but also efficient and standard-compliant in its structure. At the same time, there is often a desire to provide the classic manual form for daily use in addition to the structured content, or to present the documentation in a modern online viewer. The ability to fulfill these requirements efficiently and in a user-friendly way is essential today in order to meet the high demands of aerospace documentation.

The Task

We took on the growing demands of structured documentation at an early stage. Our ARDOS software was born out of this demand. Originally developed to provide an internal solution solely for publishing – specifically the creation of a PDF manual form from structured raw data – ARDOS has since evolved into a sophisticated and versatile software suite that now comprises several modules covering various aspects of authoring, verification and publishing. The software is used successfully by a wide variety of customers and its modular structure offers flexible solutions for the requirements of modern aerospace documentation. The most important modules include:

The Modular Solution

ARDOS Publisher

ARDOS Publisher enables the conversion of XML or SGML files and the associated graphics into high-quality, interactive PDF documents – in a professional, efficient and user-friendly way

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ARDOS Author

ARDOS Author offers a powerful solution for creating and editing SGML and XML content. A user-friendly editor combined with versatile help functions ensures the efficient and precise creation of documentation.

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ARDOS Checker

ARDOS Checker enables documentation to be checked, regardless of whether it was created internally or externally sourced. It detects both structural errors and deviations from specifications in terms of content so that corrections can be planned and implemented efficiently.

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ARDOS PDF2XML

ARDOS PDF2XML offers an efficient solution for converting existing documentation that is only available as a PDF file. Instead of manually typing hundreds of pages, the module enables 80-90% of selected document types to be automatically converted to XML/SGML – a time-saving basis for the creation of revisions.

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ARDOS Queue

ARDOS Queue optimizes workflows in comprehensive or decentrally organized teams as well as when processing multiple documents. By using it as a batch processor, the queue ensures that documentation is published efficiently one after the other or reviewed for errors in the checker – even if the availability of licenses for the publisher or checker is limited.

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ARDOS Viewer

ARDOS Viewer makes your technical documentation more interactive and user-friendly than ever before. Thanks to structured data, our viewer enables a much more dynamic presentation of manual content – far beyond the limits of conventional PDFs. As an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM), it sets new standards. Our viewer exploits the full potential of your documentation and offers powerful search and filter functions that make it easier to find specific information. Whether offline, in your company LAN or embedded in your web portal – the ARDOS Viewer can be used flexibly and adapts seamlessly to your requirements. Experience how simple and efficient modern documentation can be.

ARDOS CMS

ARDOS Content Management System (CMS) takes your documentation to a new level of efficiency and ensures maximum data consistency. The (re)use of centralized and collectively created content, the parallel cooperation of several team members on extensive manuals and a structured workflow for the creation of editorial content will make your work noticeably easier. The system consists of two modules: The server module is available either locally on site or as a hosted VPN solution. The client module integrates seamlessly into the ARDOS Author module and extends it with comprehensive CMS functions. With ARDOS CMS, you create a modern, efficient and consistent basis for your documentation – added value that you will soon no longer want to do without.

ARDOS Supplementary Tools

Even the basic version of ARDOS offers numerous useful functions that will considerably simplify your work with SGML and XML. Tools for creating reports and exports are particularly helpful, providing you with optimum support when managing and processing your documentation. These practical additional functions make ARDOS a powerful tool for anyone who requires efficient and structured data processes.

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The View Ahead

Over 20 years of development experience have already gone into ARDOS – but the end of the journey is still a long way off. The further development of the ARDOS modules is an ongoing process that is characterized by the continuous pursuit of innovation and optimization. Our aim remains to guarantee the competitive creation of technical documentation while always providing scope for new ideas. The rapid development in the aviation industry and the adaptation of its specifications, particularly with regard to ATA iSpec 2200 and ASD S1000D, also require the consistent on-going development of our solutions. ARDOS will continue to offer the necessary flexibility to efficiently support a wide range of documentation types in compliance with standards – from simple service information letters to complex operations or maintenance manuals for aircraft, their systems and components. We are confident about the future and look forward to shaping the requirements of tomorrow together with our customers.

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