Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery.pdf

Interactive Electronic Technical Manual
IETM is an electronic version of traditional Manuals, which are converted into a database and accessed through web-based software called IETM viewer.

1. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing,
Timelines, and Delivery

Developing an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM)
Contrary to popular belief, creating an IETM is not as simple as importing a
user manual PDF into software and instantly converting it into a database.
Instead, the process requires building everything from the ground up. Here’s a
comprehensive guide to developing and delivering IETM projects:
Step 1: Prepare the Table of Contents (TOC)
Collect and Review Documentation: Gather all approved PDF manuals
associated with the project. Each client or project usually involves several
manuals, which may vary in type and content.
Categorization: Sort the manuals into broad modules. For large
systems, the TOC might look like this:
• Electrical
o Navigation Equipment
▪ Radar (Instructions, User Handbook, Technical Manual,
Illustrated Parts List, Manufacturer’s Recommended Spares)
▪ GPS
▪ Gyro
▪ EMLOG
o Communication Equipment
o Main Switchboard
o Alarm Systems

2. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

o Battery Chargers
• Hull
o HVAC
o Anchors
o Towing Hook
o Magnetic Compass
o Life Rafts
o Insulation
o Windlass
• Engineering
o Fire Fighting
o Main Engines
o DA Sets
o Pumps and Compressors
o Propulsion
• For smaller systems, the classification may be limited to:
o User Handbook
o Technical Manuals Parts 1 and 2
o Illustrated Parts List
o Manufacturer’s Recommended Spares

3. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

Step 2: Build the TOC in the IETM Authoring Tool
Digitize the Structure: Using your authoring tool, recreate the paper-based
TOC as a digital, hierarchical (tree) structure—parent, child, sub-child, etc.—
precisely matching the structure of the original manuals.
Verification: Review the digital TOC against source PDFs to ensure
accuracy and completeness.
Step 3: Convert PDF Content into the IETM Database
Populate Content: Utilize the IETM Authoring Tool’s default templates to
copy content from each PDF into the corresponding sections.
Automatic Conversion: As content is input, the tool converts and stores it
in a structured database for fast searching and retrieval.

4. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

Step 4: Add Interactivity—Hyperlinks, Hotspots, Glossary, and
Related Topics
Enhance Navigation: Use the authoring tool to insert hyperlinks, hot spots,
and cross-references, making it easy for users to navigate between related
topics and glossary entries.
Clarifying ‘Interactive’: In IETMs, ‘interactive’ does not mean 3D
graphics. Rather, it refers to the ability for users to quickly browse,
search, and cross-reference thousands of pages, view related
topics, and access supplementary media with hover or clicks.
Advanced Features: Users can bookmark, annotate, review search and
document history, all of which make the manual truly interactive and user-
friendly.
Step 5: Integrate Drawings & Original Manuals
Drawings: Export high-resolution images from original PDFs. Classify and
insert them into the IETM under dedicated tabs based on category.
Original Manuals: Store all original manuals/PDFs within the IETM under a
separate “Manuals” tab for future reference.
Step 6: Branding
Customization: Place the OEM’s logo in the designated area (typically the
upper left corner). Customize the login background in accordance with the
OEM’s branding preferences.
Step 7: Internal Quality Check
Verification: Cross-check the IETM against all source PDFs to confirm the
presence of every paragraph, topic, and function (hyperlinks, hot spots,
search, user permissions, bookmarks, annotations, activity tracking, etc.)

5. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

Step 8: OEM Quality Review
Hosting: Upload the IETM to a private cloud for the OEM to review.
Feedback and Finalization: Address any observations or corrections
suggested before the final release.
Step 9: Delivery
Deliverables include:
• IETM Viewer Software
• Database and Assets (drawings, images, PDFs, videos)
• An installation manual is provided to enable independent installations.

6. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

• All content is delivered via DVD, USB, or ZIP file; OEMs can duplicate and
distribute as needed.
• IETM can be installed on standalone PCs/laptops, or on a server for
networked (LAN) access via browsers.
• IETM is a browser-based application compatible with both Windows
and Linux.
Development Stack:
The IETM framework uses Angular, Node.js, and MariaDB.
Cost of IETM
Cost of IETM depends on the number of pages to be converted as well as IETM
Viewer software cost.
Ideally, cost per page is from 175 rupees – 250 rupees per page of manual.
More pages mean less cost, and fewer pages mean more cost.
i.e. if you have 500 pages of manuals that need to be converted, then the cost
would be around 1 lakh.
IETM viewer cost will be around 3 lakhs to 4 lakhs
Hence, to make 500 pages IETM, it will cost you around 4 lakhs to 5 lakhs
Time Lines of IETM
For below 500 pages – 1 week
500- 1000 pages – 10 days
1000- 5000 pages – 1 month
5000- 10,000 – 45 days

7. Complete Guide to IETM Development – Process, Pricing, Timelines, and Delivery

Deliverables of IETM
IETM Delivery and Distribution
• The IETM software and its database will be delivered to the OEM or client
• The client is free to make unlimited copies and distribute them to end
users via DVDs.
• There are no licensing fees per installation, and no hardware binding,
serial numbers, or similar restrictions are required.
• OEMs may produce and distribute as many DVDs as necessary.
• The software license is perpetual, so there are no annual renewal
charges or recurring licensing fees.
We will provide you with one complete set of files, and you are
authorized to create and distribute as many copies or DVDs to your end
users as needed.
Summary:
Developing an IETM involves careful planning, structure, content curation, and
technical expertise. It goes beyond simple PDF conversion, adding layers of
interactivity, quality control, and end-user convenience, all tailored to the
needs of each project and OEM.



IETM • Source - SQL BASED DB (Manuals are covered in the Database)
• IETM VIEWER Software
• SERVER EXE