Leading Provider of CAD, AEC and PLM Solutions Uses MadCap Flare for Continuous Delivery of Technical Information across Multiple Online and Print Channels

Case Study Explores How ASCON Uses Flare With Mercurial SCM for Continuous Delivery of Help Content, Modernizes the Online Help Experience, and Enables Single-Source Multi-Channel Publishing

La Jolla, CA, USA — July 14, 2015 — MadCap Software, Inc., the leader in multi-channel content authoring and a showcase company for Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Visual Studio, today announced that it has published a new case study on ASCON. Providing, state-of-the art solutions for computer-aided design (CAD); architecture, engineering and construction (AEC); and product life-cycle management PLM), ASCON relies on MadCap Flare for single-source, multi-channel publishing of print and HTML Help content for its Renga Architecture and Pilot-ICE systems—all from content in the same project. Visit www.madcapsoftware.com/case-study/ascon-uses-madcap-flare/ to view the full case study.

ASCON, which is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia, operates 60 offices and dealer centers worldwide. Installations of ASCON’s software exceed 85,000 seats in the automotive, heavy machinery, aerospace and defense, agriculture, oil production and power generation, manufacturing and construction, electronics and engineering industries. The company’s solutions address key engineering design issues, such as accurate 3D modeling, preparation and release of drawings and design documentation, business process development, and engineering data management.

Single Source of Content for Three Tiers of Customer Enablement

For years, ASCON has relied on Adobe^® FrameMaker^® to create PDF documentation along with the Mif2Go plugin to generate online Help in the form of CHM files from FrameMaker^® projects. However, with the rollout of new products, the company saw an opportunity to create a modern online Help experience, as well as streamline the process of delivering content both in print and on the Web. Today, two of ASCON’s newer products are supported by documentation created in Flare: Renga Architecture, a 3D CAD system for architecture, and Pilot-ICE, a client-server system for managing industrial and civil engineering data.

Among the key benefits ASCON has realized:

• Topic-based authoring with MadCap Flare facilitates content reuse for multiple applications within the Renga Architecture and Pilot-ICE systems, which have similar operations
• MadCap Flare’s single-source, multi-channel publishing streamlines the delivery of content across multiple print and online channels.
• MadCap Flare used in combination with Mercurial SCM for version control supports the continuous delivery of Help content that is synchronized with ASCON’s software updates.
• Using Flare’s XML text editor, ASCON team members can add information to a product’s “What’s New?” file, helping to synchronize Help with new software releases.
• Together, Flare’s HTML5 output and drop-down text, the ability to add features like breadcrumbs and mini TOCs with Flare Master Pages, and integration of multimedia into Flare-based content create a more intuitive end-user experience.

“As a leading provider of CAD, AEC and PLM solutions, ASCON understands first-hand the role of first-class design in bringing content to life,” said Anthony Olivier, MadCap founder and CEO. “We are excited by ASCON’s success in using MadCap Flare to create a modern, intuitive HTML5 Help experience for customers, as well as efficiently support the continuous delivery of Help content across multiple print and online channels.”

About ASCON

ASCON is a CAD/AEC/PLM developer and integrator founded in 1989. ASCON software solutions address key issues of engineering design, such as preparation and release of drawing and design documentation, business process development and engineering data management. High-tech software from ASCON has been successfully used across various industries: machinery, automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace and defense, architecture, electronics and many others. The mechanical computer-aided design solution from ASCON, KOMPAS-3D, provides effective industrial product development, parametric 3D solid modeling, full-scale 2D design, special add-ons for photo rendering, motion simulation, kinematic and dynamic analysis at a reasonable costs. For more information, visit http://ascon.net/main/.

About MadCap Software

MadCap Software is a trusted resource for thousands of companies around the globe for single-source, multi-channel authoring and publishing solutions designed to streamline the process of developing and delivering training content, learning and development programs, technical documentation, online Help, knowledge bases, and more. From authoring, publishing and translation, to cloud-based content management system, to contribution and review in the cloud, you can streamline content delivery and manage the entire content development lifecycle with MadCap Software. MadCap Software’s services include product training, consulting services, translation and localization, and an advanced developer certification program. Headquartered in San Diego, California, with offices in Austin, TX, MadCap Software is home to some of the most experienced software architects and product experts in the content development industry.

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