• 2025

    27.0.0
    Version 27.0.0 - November 27, 2024
  • 26.1.0
    Version 26.1.0 - March 25, 2024

  • 2024

    26.0.0
    Version 26.0.0 - October 11, 2023
  • 25.1.0
    Version 25.1.0 - March 16, 2023

  • 2023

    25.0.0
    Version 25.0.0 - October 13, 2022
  • 24.1.0
    Version 24.1.0 - March 7, 2022

  • 2022

    24.0.0
    Version 24.0.0 - October 18, 2021
  • 23.1.1
    Version 23.1.1 - July 12, 2021
  • 23.1.0
    Version 23.1.0 - March 4, 2021

  • 2021

    23.0.0
    Version 23.0.0 - November 19, 2020
  • 22.1.0
    Version 22.1.0 - May 19, 2020
  • 22.0.0
    Version 22.0.0 - February 12, 2020

  • 2020

    21.1.1
    Version 21.1.1 - October 24, 2019
  • 21.1.0
    Version 21.1.0 - May 23, 2019
  • 21.0.0
    Version 21.0.0 - February 22, 2019

  • 2019

    20.1.0
    Version 20.1.0 - June 15, 2018
  • 20.0.0
    Version 20.0.0 - March 16, 2018

  • 2018

  • 19.0.0
    Version 19.1.0 - September 29, 2017
    Version 19.0.0 - April 5, 2017

  • 2017

  • 18.0.0
    Version 18.1.0 - October 18, 2016
    Version 18.0.1 - August 9, 2016
    Version 18.0.0 - April 21, 2016
    Version 18.0 - April 21, 2016
  • 18.0
    Version 18.1.0 - October 18, 2016
    Version 18.0.1 - August 9, 2016
    Version 18.0.0 - April 21, 2016
    Version 18.0 - April 21, 2016

What's New in Oxygen XML Web Author 27.0.0

November 27, 2024

Oxygen XML Web Author version 27.0.0 is the latest major release of the innovative web-based XML authoring tool. This release is packed with innovative new AI features and improvements that have been implemented in recent updates to the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Enterprise for Web Author plugin, the powerful productivity-enhancing tool that provides you with the ability to use a specific AI engine (OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, or Anthropic Claude) and assist in leveraging AI-generated content. Additionally, this release sees the implementation of new features for the file comparison and merge tool, support to make DITA maps editable in a specialized tree editor, various general editing improvements, and security enhancements.

AI Positron Assistant

Oxygen XML Web Author 27.0.0 supports the latest version of the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation

The new retrieval-augmented generation process leads to more meaningful AI responses by using information retrieved from the current document (or a documentation site bound to Oxygen Feedback) to enrich the AI context.

Function Calls

Within the definition of custom actions, you can reference existing functions that are called by the AI engine to interact with the application. This gives actions more context information and allows for more accurate answers to be constructed by the AI. The current available pre-defined function calls for Web Author are:
  • get_content_for_document_url - Retrieve the content of a certain document.
  • get_current_document_plain_text_content - Obtains all text without markup from the current document open in the editor.
  • get_current_document_marked_up_content - Obtains all text with markup from the current document open in the editor.
  • get_current_editor_file_location - Retrieves the location (absolute path/URL) of the current file that is open in the editor.
  • get_related_content_from_webhelp - Returns content from the associated Oxygen Feedback WebHelp system.
  • get_text_around_caret - Obtains size-limited content around the current cursor location within the document open in the editor.
  • save_document(URL,content) - Saves the document at the specified path and writes content to it. If a resource already exists at the specified URL, the content of the document will be overridden with the new content.

AI-Powered Actions

Update Content of a DITA Topic Based on Referenced Images

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. Furthermore, the action uses the new GPT-4o engine to offer better results.
Update Content of a DITA Topic Based on Referenced Images

Improve Structure Action

A new Improve Structure AI action can be used to instruct the AI to improve the selected DITA XML by adding additional structure or inline elements.
Improve Structure Action

Proofread Action

When editing DITA XML documents in Oxygen XML Web Author, a new Proofread AI action is now available to aid you in identifying potential issues in your content. The AI will then proceed to add comments in the content regarding logical consistency problems, grammar or spelling mistakes, or readability and comprehension issues.
Proofread Action

Resolve Comments Action

A new Resolve Comments AI action was implemented in Oxygen XML Web Author as well, enabling the AI to modify selected content based on suggestions in the review comments. It also automatically removes the comments, saving you time during the cleanup process. This action is available when working with DITA XML documents.

Generate Image Alternate Text AI Action

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

Expand DITA Topic Draft

The new Expand Draft AI action enhances a draft of a DITA XML topic by refining the content, adding consistent markup, and generating documentation based on referenced images using Vision support. The AI searches for similar content in topics gathered from related links or through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This action is available for DITA XML documents.
Expand DITA Topic Draft

Split Large DITA Topics

The Split Topic AI action splits large topics with numerous subjects into multiple topic files. The newly created topics are also conveniently referenced in the DITA map.

Miscellaneous

Store Favorite Prompts

A Favorites drop-down button located in the header of the AI Positron Assistant pane can be used to store favorite prompts during editing sessions and quickly access them at any time.

Edit Messages Sent to AI

You can edit the message that you previously sent to the AI by clicking a convenient edit button that appears to the right of your message in the response area. Once you submit your edited message, the AI regenerates the response. This streamlines the process of fine-tuning the results to suit your needs.
Edit Messages Sent to AI

AI Chat Gets Context Automatically

When directly initiating a new chat with the AI (without invoking an action), the document type and any content selected in the main editor area is automatically passed as context for the conversation. This feature allows you to get responses more tailored for that specific document.

Attach Image, XML, or Text File to a Chat

Users can attach multiple images, XML, or text files to a chat message by clicking on an interface button. The selected file will be inserted into the chat, allowing the AI to utilize it for additional context during the conversation.

Intuitive Identification of XML Content

An AI response might contain explanations followed by the actual response wrapped in the ```xml marker. This type of response is now detected and the block of XML code can be inserted or previewed.

Enterprise Edition

Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Plugin Enterprise for Web Author

Your Web Author server can integrate an Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Plugin Enterprise for Web Author that provides the ability to use a specific AI engine (OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, or Anthropic Claude) for chat purposes or to run useful predefined actions. Admins who integrate this plugin also have the ability to filter the list of AI actions, as an additional option has been included in the Preferences page that enable users to specify which actions should no longer appear in the list of available actions. For more details, see Integrating Web Author with AI Positron Assistant Enterprise.

Filter List of Available AI Actions

Users who integrate the Oxygen AI Positron Assistant Plugin Enterprise for Web Author now have the ability to filter the list of AI actions to exclude those that are not used. An option was added in the preferences page where you can specify which actions will no longer be presented in the list of available actions.

General Editing/Reviewing

Review with Color Highlights

You can now highlight document content using one of the predefined colors accessible from a convenient toolbar drop-down menu. These highlights can be used to signal to the reviewers that some content needs special attention. The color highlights are also presented in the review panel where you can manage them.
Review with Color Highlights

Specialized Text Editor

For Git integrations, a new specialized editor was added to enable the editing of text files. The editor comes with general editing features, such as actions to find/replace, cut/copy/paste, undo/redo, and compare with another file or version.

Outline Pane Compatible with Concurrent Editing

The Outline pane can now be used in concurrent editing sessions. Previously, the pane was shown as read-only.

Refresh Topic Titles in a DITA Map

You can refresh the topic titles that are displayed in the DITA map tree by using a new Refresh Titles action that is found in the contextual menu when right-clicking within the DITA Map pane.

Compare/Merge

Diff and Merge Support for Markdown and Other Non-XML Files

You can now use the file comparison and merge tool to compare Markdown, text files, and other types of non-XML files side-by-side. You can merge changes to the file (just like you can with XML files) and the differences are re-computed (automatically for small files).
Diff and Merge Support for Markdown and Other Non-XML Files

Manage Comments and Tracked Changes Using Contextual Actions

When using Web Author's merge tool for documents that contain comments or tracked changes, you now have access to various comment and change tracking actions in the contextual menu and on hover (e.g. Add Comment, Delete Comment, Reply, Accept Changes, Reject Changes). This makes it possible to easily manage comments and tracked changes within the comparison/merge tool.
Manage Comments and Tracked Changes Using Contextual Actions

Text Mode File Comparisons

A new ​Toggle Text Mode​ button is available on the File Comparison toolbar to show the differences between the two files on the XML source (in Text mode). This allows you to easily see changes that could not be seen in the visual mode (e.g. processing instructions or XML comments).
Text Mode File Comparisons

Security

ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification

Syncro Soft, the company that develops the Oxygen XML suite of products, has earned the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, demonstrating a strong commitment to implementing top-tier information security practices and ensuring that the users' data is protected to the highest standards.

Content Security Policy

The Administration page now includes a Content Security Policy (CSP) section where you can disable or relax it. The Content Security Policy provides a standard HTTP header that allows website owners to declare approved sources of content that browsers should be allowed to load and execute on that page. It helps to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) and related attacks.

Custom Content Security Policy

A new option was added in the Content Security Policy (CSP) section of the Administration page where you can configure your own custom security policy when you have a custom plugin or customization that requires a CSP.

Admin Authentication via OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Authentication to the Administration page can be configured to use OpenID Connect (OIDC) instead of the default user/password authentication. The OIDC authentication is recommended since is allows you to enable 2FA. For more information, see Using OIDC Authentication.

IPV6 Support

Web Author has been tested and works with IPV6.

Customization and Integration

Specialized DITA Map Tree Editor

An experimental feature is available to make DITA maps editable in a specialized tree editor that was inspired by the DITA Maps Manager from Oxygen XML Editor. This tree editing mode makes it easy to see and organize maps, focusing on the structure and hierarchy of topics.

The following is a list of some of the features available for editable DITA maps:

  • Manage and organize DITA maps by moving references via promote/demote/up/down actions, dragging and dropping references, or using cut/copy/paste actions.
  • Add topic or map references using a toolbar or contextual menu action.
  • Create a new DITA topic or map using a contextual menu action.
  • Add Bookmap-specific parts (frontmatter, chapter, appendix, etc.) using contextual menu actions.
  • Insert key definitions using contextual menu actions.
  • Edit DITA map properties using a contextual menu action.
  • Edit profiling attributes using a contextual menu action. The profiling attributes are easier to manage in the tree editor since it provides better visualization than in the visual editor.
  • Hover over topic references to see information about the node, including profiling attribute information.

For information about enabling this feature, see Editable DITA Map Pane (Experimental).

Specialized DITA Map Tree Editor

Force Excluded Content to be Hidden or Grayed Out

The show.excluded.content loading option that is used to control whether content excluded by a DITAVAL is hidden or shown as grayed out now accepts two additional possible values (forced.true and forced.false). If the value of the parameter is set to forced.true, the content excluded by the DITAVAL filter will always be shown as being grayed out and the similar option in the UI is hidden. If set to forced.false, the excluded content is hidden and the similar option in the UI is also hidden.

Enable Text and Markdown Editing on Your File Server

A new supportsTextEditing URL parameter can be set to true to enable the editing of Text and Markdown files. This feature is disabled by default because integrators must ensure that it works properly, often being required to apply file server-specific customizations (e.g. a custom save action). For Git integrations, this parameter is set to true by default so this parameter only needs to be set for other types of integrations.

Support for Alfresco Ticket Authentication

Web Author now supports authentication to Alfresco via Alfresco Ticket. The application automatically logs the user in if the token is specified in the alfrescoTicket URL parameter.

Programmatically Refresh Topic Titles in DITA Map Pane

The sync.api.dita.DitaMapView.refreshNodes API was added to refresh the titles of topic references in the DITA map tree. It has an optional href argument that, if specified, the method will just update the title of the nodes with the given URL. If not specified, all nodes will be refreshed. It can be invoked like this: workspace.viewManager.getView("dita-map-view").refreshNodes().

Display Custom Labels for Diff Editors

The new leftEditorLabel and rightEditorLabel URL parameters can be used to display custom labels for the left and right file comparison editors.

Component Updates

Apache HTTP Client Libraries 4.5.14

Updated the Apache HTP Client libraries to version 4.5.14.

Apache Shiro 2.0.1

Updated the Apache Shiro framework to version 2.0.1.

Apache Tomcat 9.0.97

Updated the Apache Tomcat server to version 9.0.97.

Deprecated/Removed Components

WildFly Deprecated

Support for deploying Web Author in WildFly was deprecated.

WebDAV Server Plugin

The WebDAV server plugin is no longer supported and was removed from the installation kits.

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