The latest release of a free, downloadable transformation suite that transforms documents from a variety of file formats (rtf, html, DAISY XML, ooxml, EPUB) into accessible multimedia formats for people unable to read print due to a visual, cognitive, perceptual, physical, developmental, or learning disability, called the DAISY Pipeline, was announced by The DAISY Consortium. The DAISY Project cand be downloaded at http://www.daisy.org/projects/pipeline/ .

The new 'Save as DAISY XML' add-in for Microsoft Office Word was also released today. The add-in, designed for Word 2003, Word 2007, and Word XP, allows users to save Office Open XML-based text files into the foundation of the globally accepted DAISY standard for reading and publishing navigable rich media content, DAISY XML. 'Save as DAISY XML', when used in conjunction with the DAISY Pipeline, provides a comprehensive solution to converting Word documents into accessible formats for those with print disabilities.

Microsoft Office Word Product Manager, Reed Shaffner, explained: "This combination of two powerful open source tools will, quite literally, help to make countless documents accessible to millions of people with print disabilities around the world". "The DAISY Pipeline is the perfect partner for the new 'Save as DAISY XML' add-in for Microsoft Office Word."

Including a new Windows installer, partial Hindi localization, as well as performance enhancements and the inclusion of a validator for OPS/EPUB files, the file format based on the open standard developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), several usability improvements are featured by the new release of the DAISY Pipeline. Beta versions of several new, pivotal transformers which support the migration of content from one DAISY Standard to another are also included by this release of the Pipeline.

"Each new version of the DAISY Pipeline brings greater functionality and flexibility to the process of creating accessible content for people with print disabilities. In addition to a variety of improvements and bug fixes, today's release offers compatability with Microsoft Office Word, the tool used to create nearly 70% of documents worldwide. This is a huge step toward achieving the DAISY Consortium's vision of a world where everyone has equal access to information and knowledge", explains Technical Development Director for the DAISY Consortium, Markus Gylling.