Generic Online/Offline Delivery (GOOD) System

The GOOD (Generic Online/Offline Delivery) system enables cross-media publishing from a single document source stored in a content management repository. This means that USQ is able to make courseware available to students in a variety of delivery modes (print, online, CD, DVD, etc.) from a single document source. 

Content management

At the core of the GOOD cross-media production system is a content management repository. This content management system provides an integrated document management, workflow and content editing environment. The GOOD source documents are edited using a structured XML editor called Epic Editor.

Automated publishing process

Further, the cross-media publishing process has been automated through the use of standard markup languages. The GOOD system has enabled USQ to replace its resource-intensive legacy production system for courseware with a single document source system based on the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) standard. XML-tagged courseware documents are structured within uniform, comprehensive parameters with the substantive content able to be treated discretely from its layout and presentation.  

The document layout is generated by applying XSLT (eXtensible Style Sheet Language:Transformations) to the XML-tagged content. XSLT is a language for transforming XML documents into their target formats (for example HTML for Web delivery). The GOOD cross-media production system uses XSLT to simplify and fully automate the task of publishing content in multiple formats. The GOOD "rendering engine" automatically converts XML content into PDF for print delivery, and into HTML for online and CD delivery.

On-demand outputs

The GOOD system also enables academic content specialists to edit XML documents, and to generate HTML, PDF and CD outputs on demand. The GOOD system is also used for other applications across the University, including the cross-media publication of the University Handbook, course synopses, course specifications and Computer Managed Assessment (CMA).

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