Basic XML Editing in Syntext Serna

Syntext Serna has all the XML editing capabilities you can imagine. Serna XML editor is powerful and easy enough for any writer to be involved in the XML editing process regardless of their technical or XML experience.

Serna XML editor comes with built-in XML editing support for popular document types such as DITA, Docbook, XHTML, TEI P4, NITF, etc. This allows you to create and open XML documents with just a single mouse click. It is also easy to add an XML Document Template to support documents of any custom XML format.

XML editing of DITA, Docbook, and other XML formats in Serna

Editing of different XML formats in Serna

XML editing is basically the creation of the document structure - the hierarchy of elements, their attributes, and the literal content. You can Insert, Delete, and Rename elements, Split an element into two elements, preserving the uniqueness of the ID attributes, if any. You can Join two adjacent elements with the same name, along with their attributes. You can select a portion of XML content and wrap it into an element - Tag Region, and do the reverse operation - Un-tag element content.

Assisted XML Editing

During the XML editing process Serna XML editor always provides you with the list of elements and attributes allowed in the current cursor position. Serna also remembers frequently used elements and shows them at the top of the element list. Serna provides advanced XML validation capabilities, such as context-sensitive element and attribute lists, automatic insertion of required content, etc.

Short element help for simpler XML editing in Serna XML editor

Short element help for easier XML editing

XML editing in Syntext Serna is simplified with context-sensitive element and attribute help. Serna XML editor can show short help topics as tooltips and detailed help for elements and attributes in a separate window. Dedicated help buttons are available in the Insert Element and Element Attributes dialogs. The full help is available for DITA and Docbook documents, and it is also possible to create your own help for your XML document types.

Full element help for simpler XML editing in Serna XML editor

Full element help in Serna XML editor

Element Navigation during XML Editing

In the process of XML editing in WYSIWYG mode you don`t see elements themselves, but Syntext Serna gives you all the tips to clearly understand the structure of the XML document and to easily navigate in this structure. Floating context hints indicate the current cursor position: yellow and green flags with bounding frames show you the neighbouring elements and the parent element.

The Content Map window also shows the document structure and helps writes to navigate in XML documents. The current context indicator in Content Map is synchronized with the main XML editing window.

While editing XML documents, you can navigate in the document structure with the handy commands like Next Element, Previous Element, Start/End of Line, Element Start, Element End, and Next Choice. Navigation commands combined with the Shift key pressed select a corresponding content section. Explicit content selection commands are also available: Select/Deselect Parent (on multiple levels), Select Element Content.

Drag&Drop XML Editing

Drag&drop XML editing in Syntext Serna is very handy and works with instant XML validation. Drag&drop lets you quickly and easily change the order of any XML document portions in ContentMap, Editing Window, or between them, as well as between several opened XML documents. As you drag an element to a different location, you don't have to worry about corrupting the structure of your valid XML document. The dragged element is allowed to be dropped only where Serna approves it according to the XML Schema.