The PDF Form Miner module enables the data entered into a PDF XFA (extensible forms architecture) document to be used in a Dialogue high-volume or on-demand application. PDF XFA documents maintain user-specified data in an XML section of the document. Design Manager can open a PDF XFA document and quickly map the XML fields to Dialogue variables. These variables can then be used in any Dialogue document application.

PDF forms that adhere to Adobe’s XFA (extensible forms architecture) can now be incorporated into a Dialogue application. Dialogue variables can be simply mapped to the PDF forms fields. As Dialogue retrieves the form to be sent to the PDF output, the form’s fields can be filled in automatically, so customer information can then be used to pre-populate their individual form, saving them time in the long run. After the pre-filled PDF form is created, a user can edit it with Acrobat. After editing, the form can be re-introduced to Dialogue with the PDF Form Miner module.

The Rule Analyzer module provides the means to know which rules defined in a Dialogue application are evaluated and used during a run of the Dialogue engine. The resulting output, the Rules Analysis Report, shows the rule coverage achieved with the specific data provided for that run. The report can then be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the testing parameters (data) in use. For example, the Rules Analysis Report may identify a situation in which a particular rule condition never executes or always results in a true condition.

Web Services allows Dialogue applications to participate seamlessly in an organization’s Service-Oriented Architecture. Using standards-based methods, Dialogue can incorporate data provided by web services during the document composition process. In addition, content produced by Dialogue can be passed directly to other web services for subsequent processing or fulfillment.

DLF Designer extends the functionality of Exstream Dialogue Designer so document developers can create Live documents by adding interactive functions, such as editing controls and rules, into any existing or new Dialogue document application. Functionality traditionally included in entire interactive document systems can be included in Live document applications. Live documents can be designed as stand-alone applications or for inclusion in web-based or other types of custom-developed interactive systems.

DLF Designer provides the ability to make any Dialogue document application an interactive application. Live properties can be applied to virtually all design objects to define their behavior in the application. Presentation themes can be defined to visually depict edit and selection areas before and after changes are made. Menu items and commands can be added to any interactive application. User rights based on role can be enabled at the application level.

A true development environment, DLF Designer offers a full debugger and data sheet viewer to accelerate the development process. Proofing is straightforward, as DLF Designer can provide the same view as the Live Editor.

Dialogue Live Format (DLF) files, or Live documents, are generated by the Dialogue engine just like any other type of document output. Based on XML standards, DLF was designed to support any type of interactive document. DLF embodies the interactive application framework for accessing and feeding external systems, interfacing with workflow systems, controlling presentation, formatting, and editing rules, providing user and content authentication, and containing data and content. DLF output can be produced from a workstation, concurrently by the Dialogue engine with other output in high volume, or created on demand using Dialogue Real-time. DLF files can also be used as input to Dialogue.

DLF Input allows an edited Live document (DLF file) to be used as input to the Dialogue engine for data extraction, to trigger events, create other documents, or be used as content within another document, which could be output in any format (e.g., AFP, PDF, PostScript, etc.).

Some interactive applications may require the document to be treated as a template by the end user, allowing layout and content changes to be made within the Live Editor. After DLF customizations are made, it can be reintroduced to Dialogue with the DLF Fulfillment module. This module uses the DLF as a template and applies other customer data to personalize multiple instances of the document.