Documentation

Under documentation refers to the utilization of information for further use. The aim of the documentation is to be made in writing or otherwise permanently enshrined information (documents ) specifically found. Documents in this sense, can be books, journal articles or other publications, as well as archival documents, images, movies, sound recordings and the like. Even scientifically collected data may be treated in terms of documentation.

The acquisition of information is one of the essential tasks of libraries and other documentation facilities. In libraries, the cataloging of these publications is to develop newly acquired publications carried out, ie the publications are listed in the library catalog. This usually happens in the light of rules (eg RAK or AACR ) and with the help of documentary languages ​​and other controlled vocabularies. Besides, are increasingly automated method of information retrieval for use.

The determined by documenting information about an object is called metadata.

Cataloging in libraries

In librarianship, a distinction between descriptive cataloging and subject indexing. While the descriptive cataloging limited to the (objective) formal criteria of an object, the indexing goes into its content.

Project management and software development

Documentation is in the areas of project management and software development to document all steps and measures. Objectives: accountability and learning effects.

Journalistic documentation

In movies and on the radio a journalistic processed report is referred to documentation, the use of sources and evidence are entitled to Nichtfiktionalität, in relation to the real world rises. In documentaries and radio features, there is a mixture of explanatory and narrative elements. In this case, transitions are possible in two directions. On the one hand tend the documentary genre to aesthetic- artistic area, away from pure educational film or radio school. On the other hand, there is also a transition to the entertainment area, where also the limits are exceeded for fictionality ( " docu-soap ").

In print media is called a documentation if an original document is reproduced in whole or in part. The embedding of short excerpts from the original documents in a journalistic text is called, however, quote.

Quality characteristics

Some quality aspects of documentation are: completeness, clarity, comprehensibility, structuration, correctness, editability, traceability, integrity / authenticity ( eg, change history ), objectivity

A documentation contains - apart from the actual content - the following information:

• Unique assignment to a process
• Responsible process owner
• Date and signature of the change
• Decrease endorsement of the process owner with date and signature
• Official current status of the document: Date and Link
• List of installations with links

Problems

A fundamental problem of documentation is that it can be very costly and economically pays only after a delay time, which is why many companies give up their own documentation department. In " recordings only for documentation " must be upheld you back on a flat fee means; also the performer is selected afterwards. This inevitably leads to less than satisfactory results.

Etymology

• Paul Otlet coined in the early 20th century, the term documentation in the collection, organization and utilization of documents of all kinds