The base of the PI-Class® is the definiton of product-specific and information-specific metadata, resp. taxonomies. Because of the way modular content is managed in content management systems further distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic categories is necessary. Variant management is also taken into account as it is a crucial factor in developing technical information products.
The logical concept according to PI-Class® is modelled through classification matrices and can be developed top-down (deductive) or bottom-up (inductive). It can also be applied to different information systems. PI-Class® is typically used in content management systems, content delivery portals, document management systems, product lifecycle systems and others.
The PI-Class® method is currently applied in a large number systems and implementations. In May 2015, the method has been registered as a trademark: PI-Class®. A basic introduction in the methodology can be found within the textbook Drewer/Ziegler “Technische Dokumentation” published by Vogel Business Media (in German) and in many of the listed publications.
Literature and sources online
tekom annual conference 2015: “Content Management und Content Delivery. Powered by PI-Class”
tekom annual conference 2014: “PI ist Klasse!”
PI-Fan
In order to show or learn how the PI-Class® method works in practice you can download and use our PI-Fan use case. It comprises content modules together with the associated classifications. It demonstrates the use of the method on the basis of fictional ventilation fans covering 18 different product variants.
The PI-Fan data can be used to demonstrate the consistent use of classified content not only in content management systems but also in content delivery and other systems.
As a systems provider, you can use the included classification matrices to show users how they can leverage the functionality of your system with classified content.
If you would like to implement PI-Class®in your system and register your implementation on the I4ICM web site, you need to apply the logical concept of intrinsic and extrinsic classifications and the variant management as shown in the PI-Fan use case.
The PI-Fan data can be freely used within the terms of the MIT license.
The PI-Fan and the corresponding content of its 18 variants is included in numerous CMS implementations of leading vendors. It is used as a show case and a reference model of system functionalities.
PI-Class® is also the basis for the implementation of metadata concepts wihin the development of the tekom-iiRDS standard. The PI-Fan serves as a first show case and as a reference model for concepts of informaton interchange and “Industry 4.0” concepts.
PI-Fan Packages
PI-Fan in Content Management
The PI-Fan use case is implemented in several content management systems as content example for users interested in applying the PI-Class® method.
In some system demonstrations it is already used as default content. The PI-Fan use case is implemented in the following systems (Screenshots showing how PI-Class® is applied in these systems can be downloaded):
Implementations in CMS
Implementations in Online Help Systems
PI-Fan in Content Delivery
The PI-Fan use case is implemented in several content delivery systems as example content demonstrating the use of PI-Class®. In some system demonstrations it is already used as default content.
PI-Class® is particularly useful for developing a faceted classification system to enable navigation through the intrinsic and extrinsic dimensions of the product-specific and information-specific classifications.
The PI-Fan use case is implemented in the following systems (including screenshots or web applications showing how PI-Class® is applied):
Implementations in CDP
PI-Fan in Semantics (Ontologies)
Beside the iiRDS-Implementation, there are implementations of PI-Fan and PI-Class within semantic modelling and ontology representations. Examples are given within Semantic Correlation Rules.