GPO to look at new composition system technologies

The Government Printing Office seeks information about the technology available for a composition system that could replace and improve the functionality of its existing system. GPO will need technologies that modernize data input, content, formatting and user interfaces, and integrate with GPO’s enterprisewide Future Digital System (FDsys).GPO currently depends on a batch composition engine called MicroComp to compose the majority of its publications. GPO gathers, catalogs, produces, provides and preserves publishes federal information in all its forms.GPO will host an industry day March 19 for interested vendors.MicroComp was originally designed to compose data files with typesetting-specific codes called locators, GPO said in its request for information. Locator codes are tied to external formal files that specify style attributes to be applied to content segments.About 700 related applications and utilities have been developed over the years to sustain and enhance MicroComp so it can support the evolving needs of GPO’s congressional customers, in-house print and bindery processes, and electronic access.A modernized composition system will align with GPO’s evolving enterprise architecture so it can automate many content life cycle processes, back-office functions and delivery of the content in formats suited to GPO customers’ needs. The system will be rules-based so it will be able to move content into future data tagging schemes and technologies while using industry best practices. It will be able to deliver files in Extensible Markup Language, Postscript, PDF and ASCII.A newer system must use the typographic style and page layout of current publications and support enhanced search, retrieval, data formats and repurposing of data, which will be central to FDsys.