Authoring Tool:
Any software that an author may use to create or modify Web content. This includes software that enables an author to perform any of the following functions:
  1. Text Editing: Author manipulates plain text data. For example, markup text , program code, etc. [Example 1]
  2. Symbol-Level Editing: Author manipulates symbols (not WYSIWYG renderings) that represent low-level functional groups in the underlying plain text data. For example, symbols standing for markup elements, programming code operations, multi-element placeholder, etc. [Example 2]
  3. WYSIWYG Editing: Author manipulates browser-like renderings of the underlying plain text data. For example, a markup document displayed as a Web page. [Example 3]
  4. Graphics Editing: Author manipulates renderings of object-oriented graphics (i.e. vector formats as opposed to paint formats). For example, a drawing program, the stage in an animation tool, etc. [Example 4]
  5. Content Management: Author exercises control of changes to Web content across whole documents or groups of documents, rather than at the level of individual instances of content. For example, Site Creation Wizards, Site Management Tools, Courseware, Content Aggregators, etc. [Example 5]
  6. Constrained Editing: Author makes highly constrained inputs that are structured and styled according to static templates. For example, "guest books", message boards, etc. [Example 6]
  7. Timeline Editing: Author manipulates time-dependent Web content (e.g. animation, music, etc.) using a user interface that represents a series of frames. [Example 7] If an application with a timeline editing function also includes a function for editing each frame (i.e. a stage), this function will be one of the five types listed above.
  8. Format Conversion: Author is assisted in causing Web content encoded in one format to become 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. [Example 8]