Quark has launched a new 'smart content' tool and a book explaining its XML-based concepts.

Web-based Quark Author software puts creation of structured content into a word processor-like environment with XML "behind the scenes".

The concept allows multiplatform use of content types such as sections, paragraphs, lists, tables, charts and figures, structured for dynamic assembly across mobile, digital and print.

"Traditional ways of creating content - almost always with a word processing application - trap valuable content into static, formatted documents that serve a single purpose," says Quark Software chief technology officer Dave White.

"It is difficult and expensive to find, track and update this type of content in any meaningful way. A modern approach is to break content into components that can be managed, discovered and reused across channels."

Smart Content is Quark's name for automated XML-driven publishing and tightly integrated with Quark Publishing Platform. "The benefits of XML as a content format have been proven by technical writers for years but, due to its inherent complexity, XML has been widely rejected by non-technical writers.

"We created Quark Author as an intuitive tool for business users to rapidly create, reuse and publish content across multiple channels through a familiar word-processing environment," he says.

• Quark has published a 'beginner's guide' to Smart Content as an e-book downloadable here