Illustration checks are something that most projects continue to do manually.  The mandatory checks that the illustration is technically fit-for-purpose should be accompanied by a manual presentation quality review for items such as line weights, size of text, hotspot parameter definition plus many others. The aim is to ensure compliance against the requirements listed in the S1000D chapter text and all associated project Business Rules.

Manual checking is of course an inexact science, leading to inconsistencies that wouldn’t be considered acceptable for other aspects of your technical documentation. There are also the often misunderstood requirements for successful illustration interchange. Failure to deliver your illustrations according to the required CGM profile rarely affects the visual content of the illustration, but could mean that the illustration will be rejected by a project partner. Rejection means rework, missed deadlines and extra costs…

There is however an easy way to avoid these potential illustration delivery pitfalls. The best option is to go with a tool that ensures consistency and automation in checking illustrations.  Similar to a BREX Checker that validates the Data Module content against the project’s BREX, LeoValidate from Antea is a tool that will tell you instantly if your illustrations are compliant with both Illustration Business Rules and the CGM Profile.

 

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