When a document is opened to be viewed or to be edited in the ITP/MDK Repository, it is opened in the ITP/MDK. The ITP/MDK is an extension of Microsoft Word and looks like Microsoft Word. The difference is that a menu - ITPMDK – is added.
The ITPMDK menu contains the functions that the ITP/MDK adds to Microsoft Word. Toolbars containing these functions are also available. The menu and the toolbar offer the most commonly used functions.
Starting from Word 2007, different ribbons are available for (Model) documents, Rich Text blocks, DID documents and Error documents.
If you open a (Model) document that contains __INC() tags the ITP/MDK can automatically open these Include documents for you. Just put the cursor somewhere in the __INC() tag and select the menu option ITPMDK: View Include or press the button ITPMDK: ViewInclude. The ITP/MDK searches the include path for the document and opens it for viewing.
If you need to edit the include document you select the menu option ITPMDK: Edit Include or you can press the button ITPMDK: EditInclude.
After you have made the appropriate changes to the Include document and the model document, you can create the ITP Model by using the menu option ITPMDK: Create Model or pressing the button ITPMDK: CreateModel.
When the ITP Model is successfully created you can test it by using the menu option ITPMDK: Test or clicking the button ITPMDK: Test. The Result document will automatically be opened.
The other ITP/MDK functions make your life as a model developer easier in ways similar to the ones described above. ITP Help and more advanced functions for working with Include documents are all available through a single menu option, button, or key.
The ITP/MDK Document Template
When you are logged in as an administrator, the ITP/MDK can be configured to use a Microsoft Word template for new model documents. The administrator can set this document template in the Action menu of the ITP/MDK Repository. The ITP/MDK Repository Server is installed with an example template (repository.dot) that can be adapted to your own needs.
A document template typically contains predefined Microsoft Word styles. Through consistent usage of styles you can achieve a high level of consistency in the layout of your documents. This consistency together with the appropriate usage of colors and indentation highly improves the readability of your documents.
Please note that a template is linked to a document when it is created; setting a template has no effect on existing documents.
Include documents
Through the easier usage of include documents with the ITP/MDK it becomes even more attractive to split your 20+ page model documents into smaller include documents. This enables you to re-use your standard functions, procedures, and complex data retrieval code. Re-use of code equals ease of maintenance.