department of defense handbook guidance for acquisition ... - NAVAIR

MIL-HDBK-29612-1AC.5.6.1 Page-based (composed) data products. Human-readable or viewable documents indigital or hard copy format. These products display pages, illustrations, or other objects. Pagebasedtraining documents normally provide textual (prose) information and/or graphics that, asdelivered, are suitable for use in an instructional environment (e.g., a hard-copy lesson plan,transparency, wall chart, graphic, etc.).C.5.6.2 Processable data files. Machine-readable data that users can input into and editusing multiple data applications to produce standard and custom documents. Examples ofprocessable files are text files, graphic files, alphanumeric files, audio/visual files, and relationaldatabase files. Files available in standard data exchange formats are more widely transportableamong dissimilar hardware and software applications. Processable data files are the preferreddata type for most new deliverables. Acquisition managers should also be aware of neutral fileformats such as Portable Document Format (PDF). These types of files fall between composedand processable formats - they are not fully processable, but they are much more versatile thanpage-based composed products, and are therefore becoming very popular, especially for legacydata.C.5.6.3 Legacy data files. Legacy data files provides information presented in a format thatconforms to the data structures specified in existing service unique, legacy automated systemssometimes referred to as Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) automated systems and CommercialOff the Shelf (COTS) automated systems which have not conformed to data standards specifiedin the Defense Data Dictionary System (DDDS). Using legacy data, while not directlyfacilitating full interoperability of training data, has significant advantages over continuing topurchase printed data products. Most GOTS AND COTS systems manage data in a computerbasedRelational Data Base Management System (RDBMS). It is important that the RDBMS beOBDC compliant and that the data structure of the GOTS or COTS be mapped to the datastandards in the DDDS. This will facilitate its future conversion to standard digital data and itsuse by other organizations. The primary reason that legacy data is purchased is to facilitate itsuse or manipulation of digital data in existing systems and tools which convert it into informationsuitable for immediate use in an instructional environment. The decision on whether to convertany existing training data product (e.g., lesson plan, trainee guide, audio/visuals, etc.) to SDDwill be based on factors such as current life-cycle stage, volume of data, economic feasibility ofconversion, and data usage and frequency of change. Since most military training organizationshave some legacy systems or use some COTS programs, the purchase of legacy type data will berequired until these are replaced by DDDS compliant systems. The GCO defines theorganization’s mix of existing legacy (GOTS/COTS) systems.C.5.7 Determine data format. The acquisition manager will need to identify the dataformat(s) for delivery, which is determined by the type of data deliverable described in paragraphC.5.6. The chosen formats will affect interchange standards and the media used for datadelivery. The following data formats are the forms in which each of the types of data76