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What is Knowledge Base Publishing?

See also What is knowledge base editing?

June, 1997

Knowledge Base Publishing is a system of managing business information through relational databases (collectively called a knowledge base). The knowledge base structure makes it easy for users to design a personal information toolkit without special programming. The toolkit includes features from print, Web, and database publishing formats, such as A - Z indexes with cross references, glossaries, hyperlinks and electronic forms, precision search functions, and private archives.

In a Knowledge Base Publishing system, information can include:

• articles and documents;
• business forms;
• notes and e-mail messages;
• images;
• annotations and book excerpts;
• information about people;
• transaction data (e.g. time sheets);
• organization schemes (taxonomies).

The knowledge base contains descriptive data (metadata) about the information. For quick retrieval, each knowledge base record is linked to the original document, form, or other information artifact, which can be stored anywhere — on the user's computer, on a network drive, in a database, or in an external service.

Basic principles
Knowledge Base Publishing systems are based on the assumption that the greatest productivity gains will come from integrating the best features of print, Web, and database formats. For example, the need for A - Z indexes, thesauri, bibliographies, and card catalogs did not disappear just because most business information now resides in electronic form; they needed to be adapted for use with Web content. Moreover, the quality control processes of print publishing — e.g. editing, indexing, and peer review — must be adapted to electronic information to ensure that documents can be found by search engines, verified through links to sources, and re-used in other business contexts.

Knowledge Base Publishing is geared to individuals and work groups that want to work more efficiently, ensure the highest quality work product, and make an important contribution to their organization and profession. Knowledge Base Publishers:

• have the desire and skills to create their own information tools;

• create or adapt an organization scheme (taxonomy and thesaurus) that accurately describes their business environment and that references related concepts from other work groups;

• take responsibility for adding accurate metadata and links to source material in their publications;

• participate in the development of enterprise-wide standards and policies;

• use "open" technologies that make it possible to export and import, access data in other applications, and add custom functions.

Created on June 1, 1997 l Updated on August 29, 2004

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