Xopus was the first WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor for XML that enabled authors with no technical expertise to work with structured content directly in the browser. However, in 2020 the tool’s operator SDL (today RWS) decided to discontinue further development and stopped offering support for the editor. As a result, their users need to find an alternative and switch to a different software. Xeditor is the best choice for a number of reasons: In addition to numerous advantages that include its advanced collaboration capabilities and user-friendly interface, switching from Xopus or a comparable XML editor to Xeditor is unbelievably easy.
In this article, we explain the steps involved in this process.
1. Why switch to Xeditor?
1.1 Efficient XML editing with no programming knowledge required
The basic editing features can be accessed easily without any programming. With Xeditor’s ease of use and user-friendly interface, everyone involved in the process can work productively straight away, with no need for technical skills. This means that Xeditor provides users with the ability to edit XML content directly and efficiently, regardless of their technical expertise.
1.2 Customized extention options
The open Xeditor API lets you extend the product extensively to suit your unique needs. This means you can customize the editor’s functionalities to meet your specific requirements. That kind of flexibility unlocks a host of ways to optimize the system to accommodate different demands and preferences.
1.3 Fosters collaboration
With Xeditor, project collaboration flows smoothly, eliminating past challenges. The solution organizes XML documents online and stores them together in a single location. Users also enjoy change tracking and an intuitive commenting feature. On top of that, Xeditor supports granular and role-based access control.
1.4 Edit online and offline
Xeditor lets users create and edit their structured content straight from any modern browser, regardless of the operating system. And as a web-based XML editor, it can be used from any location, even on a mobile device. All content is validated and cached in the browser, so both online and offline editing are supported. When an online connection is available, Xeditor synchronizes the content to ensure that no changes are lost and no additional input is required.
2. Step-by-step migration from Xopus to Xeditor
2.1 Preparation and adaptation
Migrating from Xopus to Xeditor involves some key preparatory work. While some settings can be used again, certain adjustments have to be made directly in Xeditor and optimized specifically for the user. These include specific features or the editor’s behavior when certain inputs are entered, such as Enter or other keyboard combinations.
Creating the XSD schema
The original XSD schema is entirely reusable. The Xeditor XSD validator performs the migration seamlessly. The compiler can be used once or whenever modifications are made to the XSD files. Its task is to translate the schema into a special format that Xeditor understands. This innovative compilation allows the Xeditor XML editor to perform efficient, real-time client-side validation that enables smooth and error-free editing for XML documents.
2.2 Editor toolbar and styling
If, for instance, you want the toolbar in Xeditor to look exactly like the one in Xopus, the system’s personal customizability means you can do that at any time. Specific customizations can be made with no previous technical experience, since the user interface setup does not require any programming.
Xeditor also supports custom CSS files, so the styling of the editor (headings, colors, font sizes) can be applied easily. This way, you can easily adapt the Xeditor interface to reflect your company’s corporate identity.
2.3 Proof of concept
To demonstrate the capabilities of our product, we will adapt Xeditor to your requirements within the space of two weeks. We then present the results to you and give you access to our infrastructure, where you can run multiple tests and evaluate Xeditor on a variety of facets, including technical implementation, functionality, features, and performance.
2.4 Integration into the architecture
Following the successful completion of the proof of concept, Xeditor is then integrated into your existing IT infrastructure and uniformly customized. If questions arise, our team of experts is always available to assist you. From that point on, you have the ability to create, edit, and review structured and cross-media-capable content with Xeditor, and enjoy all the benefits of our online XML editor.
3. Key takeaways
Thanks to our time-tested procedure, switching from Xopus to Xeditor is easy. We have leveraged our expertise and experience to facilitate countless successful migrations, among them at renowned companies such as Lufthansa Technik (here’s how Lufthansa Technik uses Xeditor). Together with our experts, they made a smooth transition to Xeditor and are already reaping the benefits of our web-based XML editor.
All in all, Xeditor not only provides seamless migration, it also significantly increases productivity and efficiency for creating, editing, and reviewing XML content. Our customers and Xeditor’s many benefits are proof that switching to our XML editor is a sound investment for the future. If you are already working with another XML editor, migrating to Xeditor is equally uncomplicated. We are happy to support you in this process and offer you comprehensive consulting as well as a live demo so that together we can achieve a seamless migration.
