Quark has introduced Quark XML Author 4.0 for Microsoft Word, which allows users to create structured XML content in the word processor.

The release of Quark XML Author 4.0 introduces new usability features, enhanced DITA mapping features, and an optional module for publishing to the DITA Open Toolkit. Quark XML Author 4.0 also supports Microsoft Office 2010. The new version continues to close the gap between word processing and complex XML schemas for non-technical Word users, says Michael Boses, director of XML products for Quark. New usability features provide users more ways to create complex XML within Word that would otherwise require complex coding.

Quick Start Templates are custom starter documents that provide guidance to users. Guidance can come in the form of custom instructions, examples, placeholders, and other features. Display of guidance text can be toggled on and off.

Intelligent Styles replace XML elements with improved Word Styles and can be accessed with a single keystroke. Intelligent Styles understand where the user is in the document and appear only when appropriate, says Boses.

Semantic Tables allow user-defined tags to be displayed as a table, which provides pinpoint information discovery and governance. Semantic tables are useful for financial services, government agencies, and other organizations with a strong reliance on tabular information such as financial statements and comparative reports.

Conditional Previews -- a feature of the optional DITA Publishing Module -- provide instant feedback on how documents will appear based on different audiences and different target outputs such as print, Web, or mobile devices.
Enhanced Support for DITA. DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is an XML-based standard for authoring and sharing information.

Integration with MathType 6 provides MathML equations in line with paragraph text or as standalone figures so that authors can include equations and formulas in their documents while remaining compatible with the MathML standard. Quark XML Author will be available June 24. To learn more go to http://www.quark.com/Products/Quark_XML_Author/ .