Authoring Tool:

Any software that an author may use to create or modify Web content. This includes software that enables an author (the user, the controller, collaborating authors, etc.) to perform any of the following functions:

1. Text Editing – Author manipulates plain text data. For example, markup text (see below) , program code, etc.
   
   
2. Symbol-Based Editing – Author manipulates symbols (not WYSIWYG renderings) that represent functional groups in the underlying plain text data. For example, symbols standing for markup elements, programming code operations (see below), multi-element placeholder, etc.
   
   
3. WYSIWYG Document Editing – Author manipulates browser-like renderings of the underlying plain text data. For example, a markup document displayed as a Web page (see below).
   
   
4. Object-Oriented Graphics Editing – Author manipulates renderings of object-oriented graphics (i.e. draw formats as opposed to paint formats). For example, a drawing program (see below), the stage in an animation creator, etc.
   
   
5. Template-Based Editing – Author enters inputs that exercise high-level control of Web content that is largely template-based. For example, Site Creation Wizards, Site Management Tools, Courseware (see below), Content Aggregators, Chat and Whiteboard systems, etc.
   
   
6. Time-line Editing – Author manipulates time dependent Web content (e.g. animation, music, etc.) using a user interface that represents a series of frames. For the editing of each frame, see the other types of authoring tool functionalities in this list.
   
   
7. Format Conversion – Manipulate Web content encoded in one format so that it becomes encoded in another. For example, functionality for saving Web content created in one format in a different format (see below) or importing Web content from one format into a different format.