While serving the same purpose, Rational® Publishing Engine and DocExpress are fundamentally different in their approach to data generation. Rational Publishing Engine borrows popular DocExpress features, such as embedding document generation capabilities within the data source application GUI. However, Rational Publishing Engine's architecture, design, and implementation are completely new and different from DocExpress.
To minimize the learning curve it is important to view Rational Publishing Engine as a brand new product.
Like in the case of DocExpress, Rational Publishing Engine, and WEXP are fundamentally different in their approach to data generation. Rational Publishing Engine borrows some WEXP concepts that proved valid, such as allowing nonlinear document flows, the ability to define the target data source at runtime but its architecture, design, and implementation are completely new and different from WEXP.
Rational Publishing Engine | DocExpress | WEXP |
---|---|---|
Template-driven generation. | Data-driven generation. | Data-driven generation. |
Does not alter the data source. Multiple document templates can be defined for a data source. | Requires changes in the data source. | Requires changes in the data source. |
Supports DOORS, Tau, RESTfull data sources and generic XML. | Supports DOORS, Tau, and XML. | Supports DOORS. |
Supports multiple data sources and data source types in the same document generation. | Data from different data sources can be generated in the same document but cannot be interleaved. | - |
Word, PDF, HTML, XSL-FO. | Word output, Frame Maker, and limited HTML. | Word output. |
Supported on Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Edition 5. | Windows only. | Windows only. |
Does not use clipboard for document generation. | Uses clipboard for data transfer. | |
Does not require Microsoft Word. | Requires Microsoft Word. | Requires Microsoft Word. |
Can generate HTML, PDF. | - | - |
Improved performance. | - | - |
Improved formatting capabilities. | - | - |
Optimized for agile teams and methods, MCIF can automate the implementation of any method. Although product-independent, MCIF is supported by IBM Rational Jazz offerings that transform software delivery by helping teams collaborate, automate, and report more effectively. Read more about the Measured Capability Improvement Framework (MCIF) at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/rational/mcif/.