Kate,

If you're interested in giving XMetaL a try, you can download a 30-day evaluation version from SoftQuad's web site http://www/sq/com.

In answer to your questions, the rules file (.rlx file for XML output) is available from the EAD Help Pages http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/ead. No charge!

Yes, you can select an entire element, or group of elements, just you can in A/E. XMetaL and A/E function in very similar ways, although XMetaL puts more of the windows that are frequently used (i.e., element and attribute selection boxes) right on the desktop.

There are a number of print and viewing options with XMetaL.

Kris

At 03:47 PM 5/18/00 -0400, you wrote:

I wonder if those of you using Xmetal would mind answering:

1) Do you need separate software to compile a rules file (or whatever)
from the DTD? If so, how much does this cost?
2) One of the things I like about Author/Editor is the fact that I can
select a whole element, thus making it very easy to deal with complex
hierarchies in finding aids (<c> within <c> within <c> within <c> and so
on). Is this functionality included in Xmetal?
3) If you are printing your finding aids, can you do so from Xmetal in an
acceptable way, or do you need to use some intermediate software?

Thanks in advance for any info.,

Kate

______________________________________________
Kate Bowers
Processing Archivist
Harvard University Archives
Cambridge, MA 02138
voice: (617) 495-2461
fax: (617) 495-8011
email: [log in to unmask]

Kris Kiesling

Chair, SAA EAD Working Group

Chair, SAA Standards Committee

Head, Department of Manuscripts and Archives

Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center

University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX 78713-7219

Voice: (512) 232-4614

Fax: 512.471.9646

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