scope:

This specification contains common requirements for the general content, style, format, and user interaction features which are required for Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM). These IETMs are to be in digital form and are designed for interactive display to the maintenance technician or system operator end user by means of a computer controlled Electronic Display System (EDS). This specification provides requirements governing the creation of IETMs and the development of IETM presentation software.

This specification contains paragraphs and specific requirements which are not applicable to all Services. Such paragraphs or requirements are prefixed to indicate the Services to which they pertain: (A) for Army; (N) for Navy; (M) for Marines; and (F) for Air Force. Beneficial comments (recommendations, additions, deletions) and any pertinent data which may be of use in improving this specification should be addressed to: HQ AFMC/ENCS, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5001; by using the self addressed Standardization Document Improvement Proposal (DD Form 1426) appearing at the end of this document, or by letter.

The remainder of Section I of this document is included to provide an introduction to the requirements contained in Section 3 and a general description of the intended use of this document in the procurement of the emerging IETM products. The binding requirements of this specification are contained only in Sections 3, 4 and 5. The range of IETMs for which general requirements are described in this specification covers the maintenance, diagnostic, training, system operation, parts information, and installation functions which are required to achieve and maintain full operational capability of a specific weapon system or other military equipment. This specification can be applied to all levels of maintenance.

An IETM must be constructed in such a way as to ensure that it is fully compatible with the operating and presentation software of an EDS, and must be presented on such a display device before any actual use, testing, or evaluation of operational suitability can take place (i.e., using the Government specified device which will be used by the end user to display the IETM). In this sense an IETM does not exist without its corresponding EDS and accordingly, each formatting and user interaction requirement cited in this specification should have a counterpart in the software section of any EDS specification.

This specification is intended to be cited in a procurement in which the Government acquires specific IETMs to support some logistics support function (e.g., maintenance, training, or system operations) for a weapon system or other military equipment. This specification describes the general requirements the author of the IETM must follow concerning the creation and selection of general content, style, format and user interaction features of the IETM. However, this specification is intended to be implemented in combination with the specific implementation style guides and detailed requirements specifications of individual end item IETMs (e.g., an IETM for a specific functional area or a specific weapon system). These documents in turn reference this specification for the general IETM requirements which are common to the differing functional end item IETMs. This specification is not a complete end item specification in itself.

This specification covers general requirements for IETMs in four categories which are outlined below and presented in the major paragraphs of Section 3.

This specification defines general content requirements common to IETMs in 3.1, 3.2, and portions of 3.6. 3.1 applies specifically to the standard revisable data base items specified in MIL-D-87269 which, in turn, are used to create the IETM. 3.2 applies to all IETMs whether or not they used MIL-D-87269 to specify the source data base. 3.6 includes content requirements which are peculiar to certain subsets of IETMs such as troubleshooting IETMs or proceduralized maintenance instructions. Content statements applying to the IETM are be classified into two types:

a. Those applicable to construction of the IETM such as those dealing with the IETM technical structure and those required to support use of a particular IETM (e.g., Help information)

b. Those applicable to specific technical processes to assure effective use of the IETM for the logistic support purpose intended

Common content requirements for IETM structure require the incorporation of such features as front (introductory) matter, list of contents, glossary, list of acronyms, statement of applicability, IETM number, IETM date, IETM edition, and many others.

This type of requirement consists of standardized increments of technical content needed to ensure that the technical information presented in support of a given process is complete, comprehensible, and effective. Examples are the requirement that location drawings be incorporated to assist the user in remove and replace operations, or the requirement that setup information be incorporated for all system related procedural information. Similarly, content requirements such as the standardized requirements for parts information will be detailed under this category. Most of the requirements in this category are included in 3.6 of this specification.

The style requirements are presented in 3.3 of this document. The term "style" refers to two categories or requirements:

a. The nature of the language structure (grammar and syntax) used; the vocabulary; and criteria governing technical terminology, numbers, and abbreviations

b. The presentation related aspects of text, graphics, and audio information (e.g., graphics design, callout construction, and use restrictions on audio tones)

Format requirements deal with all aspects of the arrangement (organization) of text and graphics information for screen presentation, and with the sequencing (ordering) of frames for interactive presentation within an increment of technical information. General format requirements of the IETM user interface are contained in 3.5 of this specification.

General requirements for user interaction capabilities required for interactive presentation of IETMs (requirements which, as noted, must be reflected in the EDS) are contained in 3.4 and 3.5 of this document. The specific functions defined in these paragraphs are of two types:

a. In 3.4, those user interaction functions needed to control a screen display (e.g., windowing controls, cursor control, scrolling). (See 3.4, Table I)

b. In 3.5, those user-interaction functions which are required for the user to interact with the IETM and to obtain information from it (e.g., HELP, NEXT, BACK). (See 3.5.2.1, Table III)

intended Use: