MadCap Software Wins Patent for Structure Bar Technology in XML-based MadCap Flare Publishing Software

    LA JOLLA, CA, March 29, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- MadCap Software, Inc. (http://www.madcapsoftware.com), the leader in multi-channel content authoring and a showcase company for Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft XPS, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded MadCap a patent for its "Visual Document Structure Indicator" technology.

The patented design provides the basis of the Structure Bars in MadCap Flare, MadCap's flagship XML-based software for single-source multi-channel publishing, which give users unprecedented ease in creating and publishing structured content. Structure Bars allow authors to simultaneously view a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) representation of the underlying XML structure and architecture of a document without having to view the raw XML code.

Significantly, the Structure Bar views are more than just visual icons. Instead, they use MadCap's patented technology to provide fully functional representations of the document structure that allow authors to manipulate, edit or rearrange the content; revise formatting; apply conditional tags; insert, move and merge numbers, lists and tables; and much more--without ever having to write a line of XML code. Structure Bar views are optional, allowing authors to turn the different Structure Bar displays on or off. A demonstration of the Structure Bar features is available at http://tutorials.madcapsoftware.com/product/flare/StructureBarsDemo2/Structure%20Bars-V.htm.

"In traditional XML editors or any other visual editors used today, it is often very difficult for authors to manipulate content for even everyday tasks, such as merging or unbinding numbered lists; continuing the numbering on merged lists; and applying conditions to words, paragraphs and tables, to name a few," said Anthony Olivier, MadCap Founder and CEO. "The patented Structure Bar technology in our state-of-the-art Flare publishing software brings the power of XML to non-programmers by combining an intuitive visual representation of documentation with point-and-click simplicity for creating, revising and formatting enterprise content. With Structure Bars, it's simple for everyday authors to perform in seconds what can take hours to accomplish using traditional editors. Moreover, an author does not have to understand XML authoring and never has to look at the underlying XML code to perform even the most detailed editing tasks."

About MadCap Software
MadCap Software, Inc. is a leading technical communication software firm specializing in integrated applications for end-to-end content development, delivery and management. MadCap's software products provide state-of-the-art content workflow solutions for multi-channel publishing, including the Web, print, desktop and mobile. Through its strategic partner Microsoft Corp., MadCap delivers solutions optimized for Microsoft Windows, Visual Studio, and the .NET environment. Headquartered in La Jolla, CA, MadCap is home to some of the most experienced software architects and product experts in the documentation industry. Learn more about MadCap Software at www.madcapsoftware.com.

MadCap Software, the MadCap Software logo, and MadCap Flare are trademarks or registered trademarks of MadCap Software, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.

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