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A '''document''' (noun) is a bounded [[physical]] representation of a [[body]] of [[information]] designed with the capacity (and usually [[intent]]) to [[communicate]]. A document may [[manifest]] [[symbolic]], diagrammatic or sensory-representational information. To document (verb) is to produce a document [[artifact]] by collecting and representing information. In prototypical usage, a document is understood as a [[paper]] [[artifact]], containing information in the form of ink marks. Increasingly documents are also understood as digital artifacts.
Colloquial usage is revealed by the connotations and denotations that appear in a Web search for document. From these usages, one can infer the following typical connotations:
* Writing that provides information [[person]]'s [[thinking]] by means of [[symbolic]] marks.
* A written account of ownership or obligation.
* To record in detail; "The [[parents]] documented every step of their child's [[Growth|development]]".
* A digital file in a particular format.
* To support or supply with [[references]]; "Can you document your claims?".
* An artifact that meets a [[legal]] notion of document for [[purposes]] of discovery in litigation.
* Document is the [[practical]] construct for describing matter in different forms which retain information for a reasonable period of [[time]] wherein it can be perceived by a sentient [[observing]] [[entity]].
The variety usage reveals that the notion of document has rich social and [[cultural]] aspects besides the [[physical]], [[function]]al and operational aspects.
==Document production==
There are a number of roles in which people are involved in the [[creation]] and distribution of [[traditional]] [[paper]] documents (Romano, 1989); some, but not all documents are processed by people [[acting]] in each role, each of which may be performed by an [[individual]] or a [[group]]. [[Books]] are a well known example of documents that require an extensive publication [[process]], but many other documents undergo similar processes to at least some of those from book publication. Each of these roles is considered to improve or add [[value]] to a document. These roles are generally understood as being clustered in various [[phases]] in the production of a classical document, including [[authorship]], [[Editor|editing]] and prepress. Roles and workflows in the production of modern digital documents are more variable and are discussed in the section on future documents.
* An '''[[author]]''' selects the [[content]] to be [[communicated]] and [[performs]] the initial organization and recording of the content. A document in this state is often called a [[manuscript]].
* A '''reviewer''' reads the content and [[Analysis|evaluates]] it with respect to the intended [[audience]]. Reviewers often recommend only the best documents to be published. Documented reviews are frequently published as guidelines for document consumers as well.
* An '''[[editor]]''' helps to organize and [[express]] the content so that the [[meaning]] is clear and understandable, and follows the [[convention]]s of the [[symbolic]] representation such as spelling and [[grammar]].
* A '''publisher''' orchestrates the [[process]] of producing a document, often decides whether a document is worth the effort of publishing (usually an [[economic]] [[decision]]), and collects and disseminates the profits from sales of a produced document.
* A '''printer''' formats the document into a comfortable form such as a bound [[book]]. Printing can be a very [[complex]] and elaborate process, including
: '''pagination''' - [[function]] performed by an individual who takes on the tasks of organizing [[text]], fonts, images, headings, footnotes, chapters and sections to accommodate the [[physical]] constraints of a printed page [[aesthetically]].
: '''pre-press'''—function performed by print shops in preparing paper documents for production.
: '''imposition''' - organizing [[desired]] pages on a larger media such that when folded and trimmed the pages will be upright and in order.
: '''printing''' - marking [[paper]] with ink or toner
: folding pages into sections
: binding pages together and covering
: trimming
: packaging
* A '''distributor''' manages inventory and physical distribution of printed documents to retailers.
* A '''retailer''' manages a local inventory and sales to consumers, and often is familiar with the [[content]] and can make appropriate recommendations.
* A '''librarian''' organizes, tracks borrowing of, and [[archives]] documents.
A publication [[process]] enables a consumer to purchase or borrow, [[read]] and learn from documents. Consumers are often the intended audience of the publication process.
[[Category: General Reference]]
[[Category: Publishing]]
A '''document''' (noun) is a bounded [[physical]] representation of a [[body]] of [[information]] designed with the capacity (and usually [[intent]]) to [[communicate]]. A document may [[manifest]] [[symbolic]], diagrammatic or sensory-representational information. To document (verb) is to produce a document [[artifact]] by collecting and representing information. In prototypical usage, a document is understood as a [[paper]] [[artifact]], containing information in the form of ink marks. Increasingly documents are also understood as digital artifacts.
Colloquial usage is revealed by the connotations and denotations that appear in a Web search for document. From these usages, one can infer the following typical connotations:
* Writing that provides information [[person]]'s [[thinking]] by means of [[symbolic]] marks.
* A written account of ownership or obligation.
* To record in detail; "The [[parents]] documented every step of their child's [[Growth|development]]".
* A digital file in a particular format.
* To support or supply with [[references]]; "Can you document your claims?".
* An artifact that meets a [[legal]] notion of document for [[purposes]] of discovery in litigation.
* Document is the [[practical]] construct for describing matter in different forms which retain information for a reasonable period of [[time]] wherein it can be perceived by a sentient [[observing]] [[entity]].
The variety usage reveals that the notion of document has rich social and [[cultural]] aspects besides the [[physical]], [[function]]al and operational aspects.
==Document production==
There are a number of roles in which people are involved in the [[creation]] and distribution of [[traditional]] [[paper]] documents (Romano, 1989); some, but not all documents are processed by people [[acting]] in each role, each of which may be performed by an [[individual]] or a [[group]]. [[Books]] are a well known example of documents that require an extensive publication [[process]], but many other documents undergo similar processes to at least some of those from book publication. Each of these roles is considered to improve or add [[value]] to a document. These roles are generally understood as being clustered in various [[phases]] in the production of a classical document, including [[authorship]], [[Editor|editing]] and prepress. Roles and workflows in the production of modern digital documents are more variable and are discussed in the section on future documents.
* An '''[[author]]''' selects the [[content]] to be [[communicated]] and [[performs]] the initial organization and recording of the content. A document in this state is often called a [[manuscript]].
* A '''reviewer''' reads the content and [[Analysis|evaluates]] it with respect to the intended [[audience]]. Reviewers often recommend only the best documents to be published. Documented reviews are frequently published as guidelines for document consumers as well.
* An '''[[editor]]''' helps to organize and [[express]] the content so that the [[meaning]] is clear and understandable, and follows the [[convention]]s of the [[symbolic]] representation such as spelling and [[grammar]].
* A '''publisher''' orchestrates the [[process]] of producing a document, often decides whether a document is worth the effort of publishing (usually an [[economic]] [[decision]]), and collects and disseminates the profits from sales of a produced document.
* A '''printer''' formats the document into a comfortable form such as a bound [[book]]. Printing can be a very [[complex]] and elaborate process, including
: '''pagination''' - [[function]] performed by an individual who takes on the tasks of organizing [[text]], fonts, images, headings, footnotes, chapters and sections to accommodate the [[physical]] constraints of a printed page [[aesthetically]].
: '''pre-press'''—function performed by print shops in preparing paper documents for production.
: '''imposition''' - organizing [[desired]] pages on a larger media such that when folded and trimmed the pages will be upright and in order.
: '''printing''' - marking [[paper]] with ink or toner
: folding pages into sections
: binding pages together and covering
: trimming
: packaging
* A '''distributor''' manages inventory and physical distribution of printed documents to retailers.
* A '''retailer''' manages a local inventory and sales to consumers, and often is familiar with the [[content]] and can make appropriate recommendations.
* A '''librarian''' organizes, tracks borrowing of, and [[archives]] documents.
A publication [[process]] enables a consumer to purchase or borrow, [[read]] and learn from documents. Consumers are often the intended audience of the publication process.
[[Category: General Reference]]
[[Category: Publishing]]
