This post is a continuation from my previous post, looking at some of the issues in collaboratively constructing documents. There are a huge range of options available for collaboratively producing documents. From sharing a file via USB or file hosting website to online editing and annotation, each method is best suited to different purposes. The main considerations include:
- Control: Where is the document stored? What happen when services/people are not available?
- Security: How easy is it to control who can access the document? What system is used for authentication?
- Versioning: Are different versions stored and are they clearly organised?
- Document Type: File/desktop app (eg. pdf, doc or odt)? Browser-based (eg. wiki, word processing)?
- Formatting, Layout and Markup Language:
- Plain Text (“lowest common denominator”) – no formatting
- lightweight markup (WikiText, BBCode, Textile) – simple to compose, easy to read in plain text form
- WYSIWYG (MS Word, OpenOffice.org, LaTeX) – document preparation systems with full formatting support
In looking at these attributes it is clear that using a Wiki for a sensitive or critical document may not be the best choice. Similarly, sharing a MS Word document via USB drive will quickly cause chaos through incomplete or confused revisions. It is necessary to determine the above attributes before choosing a method of creating the document.
