Oxygen AI Positron Assistant 2.1

June 12, 2024

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on is a powerful tool that helps users increase their productivity by providing support for using AI-generated content. Version 2.1 expands upon the enhancements of the previous version by adding the advanced multi-modal GPT-4o to the list of models to choose from, as well as the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service connector now supporting authentication using Microsoft Entra ID.

New AI actions have been introduced in this version, allowing users to generate, document, or explain specific code, initiate a conversation with the AI regarding certain code, and create alternate text for images. Furthermore, version 2.1 also introduces three AI XML refactoring actions aimed to improve the efficiency for users working with DITA XML topics.

For Web Author users who integrate the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise for Web Author plugin, the ability to filter the list of AI actions is now available.

There are changes in:

Optimization

GPT-4o Model

GPT-4o was added to the list of models to choose from in the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant preferences page. This is OpenAI's most advanced multi-modal (able to accept text or image inputs) model and it is faster and less expensive than the GPT-4 Turbo model.

When utilizing the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise add-on, access to the GPT-4o model is possible when connected to the OpenAI platform.

Enhanced Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service Connector Using Microsoft Entra ID Authentication

For the Enterprise version of Oxygen AI Positron Assistant, the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service connector now supports authentication using Microsoft Entra ID, offering improved security and flexibility. Environment variables can be used for various authentication methods, including service principal and username/password authentication.

AI-Powered Actions

Explain Code AI Action

The new Explain Code AI action (located in the Development category) can be used to generate an explanation of the code found in the current selection, at the cursor location, or in the whole document. This action is available for XSLT, Schematron, XSD, CSS, XQuery, JSON, and JSON Schema documents.

Chat About Code AI Action

The Chat about Code AI action (located in the Development category) is now available and enables users to start a conversation with the AI regarding the code found in the current selection, at the cursor location, or in the whole document. Utilizing this feature, users can easily optimize and rewrite code blocks with the help of the AI Positron Assistant, thus enhancing their overall coding experience and efficiency. This action is available for XSLT, Schematron, XSD, CSS, XQuery, JSON, and JSON Schema documents.

Document Code AI Action

The newly introduced Document Code AI action (located in the Development category) can be used to generate the documentation for selected content, the current node, or the entire document. The generated documentation can then be inserted as an XML comment before the documented code. This feature is applicable to XSLT, XSD, and Schematron documents.

Generate Code AI Action

The Generate Code AI action (located in the Development category) allows users to generate code for various editor types (such as XSLT, Schematron, XSD, CSS, XQuery, JSON, and JSON Schema) based on the instruction specified in a selected text from the editor or in a comment preceding the cursor location.

Generate Image Alternate Text AI Action

When editing DITA XML files, the new Generate Image Alternate Text AI action can be used to generate an alternate text for an image that is selected in the editing area.

AI XML Refactoring Actions

The AI Positron Assistant add-on introduces a new category titled AI in the application's XML Refactoring wizard. This category includes three new XML refactoring actions aimed to improve the efficiency for users working with DITA XML topics: Generate alternate text for images in DITA XML topics, Generate missing short descriptions in DITA XML topics, and Shorten existing short descriptions in DITA XML topics.

Web Author

Filter List of Available Actions for Web Author

Oxygen XML Web Author users who integrate the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise for Web Author plugin now have the ability to filter the list of AI actions. An additional option has been included in the Preferences page, enabling users to specify which actions should no longer appear in the list of available actions.

Miscellaneous

Selected Content Sent to AI for Context

When directly initiating a new chat with the AI (without invoking an action), any content selected in the main editor area is automatically passed as context for the conversation. This feature allows users to effortlessly process content within the editor.

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant 2.0

April 23, 2024

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on is a powerful tool that helps users increase their productivity by providing support for using AI-generated content. Version 2.0 adds support for Vision models, allowing the AI to also read and interpret images and thus supporting more use cases. The new Generate Documentation Draft action makes it possible for users to provide instructions and images to help the AI engine create a draft DITA topic. Furthermore, this version also introduces an action that enables users to simply update the images from a topic and have the AI analyze the images and propose content updates.

Oxygen XML Web Author users can now benefit from the new Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise plugin. Moreover, the Oxygen XML Enterprise edition license for Oxygen XML Editor, Author, and Developer products now includes access to the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise add-on at no extra cost.

Oxygen XML Enterprise Edition Includes Free Access to AI Positron Assistant Enterprise Add-on

An Oxygen XML Enterprise edition license for Oxygen XML Editor, Author, and Developer products now includes access to the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise add-on at no extra cost. The subscription license for Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise add-on remains available for Oxygen Professional, Academic, and Personal edition users that want to use the AI Positron Assistant Enterprise Add-on.

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise Connector for Anthropic Claude

The Enterprise version of the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on introduces a new connector for Anthropic Claude, along with the existing connectors for OpenAI and Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, thus allowing users to connect directly to Anthropic Claude as well.

Vision Support

With the newly added vision support, the AI can now read and interpret images, thus supporting more use cases such as generating a documentation draft by also considering the content of some images or suggesting changes to the content of a topic based on updated images. Images can be easily added to the prompts entered in the Chat window using a dedicated attach action. The vision support is available for both the version that uses the Positron Service, as well as in the Enterprise version of the add-on (if the configured engine has vision support).
Vision Support

Generate Documentation Drafts

A new action called Generate Documentation Draft is available that can be used to create a draft DITA topic. To control the draft generation process, users can specify the context for the new topic, instructions, and images that will be analyzed using the vision support in a dedicated drafting configuration file that gathers all this information. Oxygen provides a customized editing experience in the visual Author editing mode for these draft configuration files so you can easily create such files just by following the instructions from the visual editor.

Generate Documentation Drafts

Update the Content of a DITA Topic Based on the Images that it References

A new Update content based on images action can be used to update the content of a DITA XML topic. This action reads the images referenced in the topic and analyzes their content to identify any missing information from the documentation, and suggests an update to the topic content.
Update the Content of a DITA Topic Based on the Images that it References

Quick Assist Actions

Some of the most frequently used AI actions (e.g. Correct Grammar, Improve Readability, Use Active Voice) are now available as Quick Assist fixes in the editor by clicking the bulb located on the vertical navigation stripe.
Quick Assist Actions

Variables to Obtain Selection with Track Changes Accepted/Rejected

Two new variables may be used when you write prompts: ${selection-original}, which expands to the selected text with all track changes rejected, and ${selection-final}, which expands to the selected text with all track changes accepted. Using these variables, you can provide the AI with both the original and modified text and ask the AI engine to analyze the change. For instance, you can determine if the AI considers that the final version demonstrates improved readability.

Filter the List of Actions

You now have the ability to filter the list of actions to exclude those that you do not use. An option was added in the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant preferences page where you can specify which actions will no longer be presented in the list of available actions.

GPT-4 Turbo

The GPT-4 Turbo Preview model, which could be used by the AI Positron Assistant with the cloud-based Oxygen AI Positron Service or by the Enterprise add-on when connecting to OpenAI, was replaced with the final GPT-4 Turbo engine release.

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise Plugin for Web Author

Oxygen XML Web Author users now have access to the new Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise plugin for Web Author. This plugin provides connectors for direct access to your own OpenAI account or AI service hosted on Microsoft Azure.

AI XPath Functions Updated to Allow Adding a Conversation History

The signatures of the AI XPath functions ai:transform-content and ai:verify-content were modified to allow adding a conversation history when the functions are used. You can add multiple pairs of user-agent data that will be passed to the AI as the history of the conversation. This can be used for more complex actions that need to also set a context for the AI operation.

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant 1.1

February 7, 2024

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on is a powerful tool that helps writers increase productivity by providing support for using AI-generated content with the Oxygen AI Positron service. Version 1.1 introduces a separate Enterprise version of the add-on for those who want to configure the service to use a company-specific AI service (OpenAI or Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service). Moreover, this update brings a selection of new document templates to help you create your own custom AI actions, and a new action was implemented that allows you to translate content into any language. The interface was enhanced to provide easier access to actions, alongside the introduction of various other user experience enhancements.

To try the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant for yourself, there is an option to start with a trial period. Additionally, there are several subscription plans to choose from to align with specific usage needs.

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise

A separate Enterprise version of the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on is now available for those who have an OpenAI account or an OpenAI service hosted on Microsoft Azure. This version of the add-on allows you to leverage your own personalized AI models. You can configure your company-specific AI service details in the new AI Service Configuration preferences page (Options->Preferences->Oxygen AI Positron Assistant->AI Service Configuration). Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise requires a subscription license key to operate.

Create Custom AI Actions

New document templates are available to help you easily create AI Positron custom actions. The AI Positron Custom Action file template contains a single custom action definition in JSON format and can be used to configure a single action, while the AI Positron Custom Actions List file template provides a convenient way of defining multiple actions inside the same file.

Translate Content to Any Language

A new action (named "Other") was added inside the Translation section and can be used to translate content into any desired language. You are able to choose from predefined values or type your own values.

AI Refactoring Available for Remote Resources

The AI Positron Assistant add-on contributes an AI Positron Refactoring action in the contextual menu (Refactoring->AI Positron Refactoring) of both the Project and DITA Maps Manager views that can be used to refactor multiple files at once. Now, this feature also works when applied on remote resources (for example, resources placed on WebDav servers or Content Management Systems).

Easier Access to Actions

The available AI actions are now displayed as buttons in the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant view when the chat is empty (in addition to being displayed in the Actions drop-down menu). This was meant to provide easier access to the actions.

XML Syntax Highlights

The chat pane now uses XML syntax highlights for XML code to help make it easier to see and understand the XML structure.

Introducing Oxygen AI Positron Assistant 1.0

November 10, 2023

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant add-on is a powerful tool that helps writers increase productivity by providing support for using AI-generated content with the Oxygen AI Positron service. Once installed, writers can utilize AI-generated content to perform repetitive tasks, review grammar, generate structure and text, or propose changes to improve readability. It always keeps the writer in control, offering a visual diff comparison to help quickly identify proposed changes and understand how the AI-generated content will appear in the content and you have the ability to refine proposals by continuing the chat with the AI.

To try the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant for yourself, there is an option to start with a trial period. Additionally, there are several subscription plans to choose from to align with specific usage needs.

There are changes in:

AI-Powered Actions

AI Positron Actions

The AI Positron Assistant side-view and various menus offer an extensive array of AI-powered predefined actions that enable users to:

  • Generate content such as DITA topics, document fragments, short descriptions, and index terms.
  • Improve existing content in terms of grammar, readability, and the use of active voice.
  • Get various insights to understand how readable the content is and how it responds to questions.
  • Translate to various languages while preserving the XML structure.
  • Write better marketing content with support for generating press releases, marketing posts, applying marketing frameworks, and for enhancing search engine optimization.

Custom AI Actions

In addition to the built-in AI actions, it is possible to create your own custom actions. In the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant preferences page, you can define a reference to a folder that contains custom actions, which can be easily created using Oxygen's new file wizard. The benefit of this feature is that it provides you with a seamless way to create, organize, and manage your custom actions to effectively leverage the power of AI technology within Oxygen.

Additional Features

AI Chat

The AI Positron Chat allows you to conveniently track the progress and view the results of triggered actions, along with the responses received from the AI platform. With actions available to insert the response within the document, preview the response insertion, or copy the response to the clipboard, you have complete control over the AI-generated content before it is incorporated into your document. Additionally, you can further refine the responses by sending messages directly to the AI Positron platform. It also supports storing favorite prompts, you can edit previously sent prompts, and a History drop-down allows you to revisit previous conversations and continue where you left off.

AI Fixes for Validation Problems

When validation problems are displayed in Oxygen's Results pane, you can right-click on a problem and use the AI Positron Fix action to request assistance from the Oxygen AI Positron platform to resolve the issue. It will propose content that can be used to solve the problem.
Validation Fixes

AI Refactoring

Refactor one or more files at once using the AI Positron Refactoring action that makes it possible to leverage the power of AI to efficiently edit and manage the structure of documents within your project. This action allows you to either choose from a list of predefined actions or provide custom instructions for the AI to follow. Additionally, you can preview the proposed changes before accepting them. The action is available in the Refactoring submenu when right-clicking files in both the Project and DITA Maps Manager views.

Record Examples for a Set of Instructions

Streamline and automate repetitive tasks using the Record button (located in the top left corner of the AI Positron Assistant view). It enables you to provide a set of instructions and record a collection of examples directly in the editing area to assist the AI in better understanding the given instructions. You can then save the final result either as a favorite prompt or as an AI Positron action that can be easily accessed and reused in future interactions with the AI Positron Assistant.

Subscriptions

Subscription plans were implemented to provide an easy way for users to purchase additional credits. There are 3 different subscription options to choose from, depending on your usage. The Explorer option is good for covering daily tasks when predominantly using GPT-3.5, the Professional option is great for a balanced use of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, while the Expert option is ideal for intensive use of GPT-4.

Customization

AI Positron Preferences

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant preferences page (Options > Preferences > Plugins) provides options for configuring custom actions and defining a context used in each action and chat request. This ensures that the AI-generated content is more relevant and aligned with your requirements, enhancing the overall quality of the responses. Additionally, the preferences page includes an option to cache identical requests. This feature works by sending fewer requests to the AI server, resulting in a faster and more efficient process.

Change Default Model

The Oxygen AI Positron Assistant preferences page has an option for changing the default model (GPT-3.5, GPT-4, or GPT-4 Turbo) to use for the chat view and for actions that do not explicitly specify a model.

AI-based XPath Functions

The add-on contributes two XPath extension functions [ai:transform-content(instruction, content) and ai:verify-content(instruction, content)] that can be used from custom Schematron schemas or XML Refactoring actions to rephrase content or to perform validation checks on existing content.