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What format is IETM?

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Balaji

Lvl 2
1mo ago
Updated: 6/26/2026

An Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) is a modern, digital form of a traditional technical manual, designed with interactive elements such as hyperlinks, advanced search options, and multimedia integration for easier access and understanding.

IETMs are usually delivered in HTML/XML, PDF, or specialized viewer formats with interactive navigation.

IETMs are more efficient, interactive, and secure than traditional paper manuals. They allow armed forces to reduce bulk, save costs, update content in real time, and provide interactive learning and troubleshooting tools.

Over time, IETMs can completely replace paper manuals, offering a modern, accessible, and reliable source of technical information for defence personnel.

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Balaji

Lvl 2
1mo ago

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Related Questions

What Inputs Are Required to Make Ietm Levels?

To make IETM we need Inputs in the form of documents and a little guidance from Subject matter experts is needed from the OEM. IETM means Interactive electronic technical manuals. To make the IETM, we need all the manuals which are in electronic format. It means soft copies i.e. DOC files or PDF files of all the manuals finalized and reviewed by the relevant approval authority i.e. DGQC, MAG etc and all the Drawings, Images and Videos if you have any. Manuals Drawings Images / Videos We design, develop, and deploy Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM) in compliance with both Indian defense standards (JSG 0852) and European Aviation Standard IETM S1000D. We offer our IETMs at every IETM Levels: IETM Level 1 and IETM Level 2 are PDF files. IETM Level 3, IETM Level 4 and IETM Level 5 Our IETM framework is created with open-source technologies, so there are no recurring license fees. It works with all popular browsers and devices and supports multiple operating systems (Windows and Linux).


How is an IETM different from a PDF or scanned manual?

PDFs are static and linear. An IETM is searchable, cross-linked, role based and interactive, allowing users to quickly locate procedures, parts, or faults. IETM Level 1 and 2 are PDF files. IETM Levels 3 and 4 are not any document like MS Word or PDF file. IETM is a combination of Software and database. All the manuals are converted to SQL database. Using IETM Viewer, the user can access the data i.e. manuals, drawings, images, etc. IETM has 3 modes. User mode where users can access the documents. Admin mode where Admin can create users and track the activities of users. Super admin or Authoring tool, where all the manuals are converted to database using this authoring tool. Many people think that IETM is a separate format like MS Word (.DOC) or Portable Document File (PDF). IETM is a technical term used to represent but not a format. Even PDF file is also ETM. Normal scanned images compiled together is Level -1 IETM and PDF has hyperlinks, cross-references, indexing which means interactivity is called Level -2 IETM. Level -3 IETM uses XML or HTML and makes it much dynamic than PDF. Level -4 is database-based IETM. All the manuals are converted into the MYSQL database and stored. A viewer is used to access the data based on the user request, data will be pulled from the database and displayed to user. Level-1 and LEVEL -2 its PDF file. Level -3 HTML-based web application, LEVEL 4 is Databases based web application.


Inputs That Are Required to Make IETM Level-4?

What do we, Code and Pixels need to make IETM Level -4? Inputs that are required to make IETM level-4. or Contribution of OEM while developing the IETM. What Inputs Are Required to Make Ietm Level 4? To make IETM we need Inputs in the form of documents and a little guidance from Subject matter experts is needed from the OEM. IETM means Interactive electronic technical manuals. To make the IETM, we need all the manuals which are in electronic format. It means soft copies i.e. DOC files or PDF files of all the manuals finalized and reviewed by the relevant approval authority i.e. DGQC, MAG etc and all the Drawings, Images and Videos if you have any. Manuals Drawings Images / Videos Documents Mean, What Are the Various Documents You Need? Based on your delivered equipment the type of documents may vary. A big system or Machinery will have many more documents than a small system or component. Hence, there is no fixed rule on what documents will go into the IETM. For example, as shown on the screen, a bigger system may have many documents compared to a smaller system. Assuming that the deliverable is a missile then a lot of documents go into the IETM. If the deliverable is some component or Pump or single Radar or small LRU, then fewer documents may go into the IETM database.


What makes Code and Pixels a leading IETM company in India?

Code and Pixels is considered a leading IETM company in India due to its 125+ completed defence IETM projects, in-house IETM software (Quantum TechDocs), and strong experience working with defence organizations, OEMs, and research agencies.


What is the difference between an IETM viewer and an IETM authoring tool?

An IETM authoring tool and an IETM viewer serve distinct roles in the IETM lifecycle. An IETM authoring tool is used by technical authors and documentation teams to create, edit, structure, validate, and publish IETM content in compliance with standards such as IETM Level 4 or S1000D. It supports structured data modules, version control, configuration management, validation rules, and publishing workflows. An IETM viewer, on the other hand, is used by end users such as technicians, operators, and maintenance personnel to access and interact with the published IETM. It provides read only access with features like search, navigation, hyperlinks, procedures, illustrations, and multimedia. In essence, the authoring tool is responsible for building and maintaining the manual, while the viewer is responsible for delivering and using the manual during operations and maintenance. Disclaimer: This answer is for educational purposes. The description is based on general features of IETM JSG 0852 in India, by Code and Pixels.


What is IETM and What is Not IETM How to Access the IETM?

IETM Vs 3D Blowups There is a misconception about IETM. As the name indicates interactive, people assume that it is a 3D based on blowup software. Interactive means, users can browse or cross-refer or interact with the software to search on a particular topic/sub-topic. 3D Animations and blowups can be taken as separate tasks based on the complexity of the system and the level of blowups that you want. We have a separate division to take up such assignments. If your SCOPE /SOTR /RFP says IETM then stick to IETM only. These 3D animations, 3d Blowups, and virtual reality cost more than IETM cost. They will be good to see definitely but they are not part of IETM. If your client wants 3d and if the scope specifically mentions 3d then it is a separate deliverable but not IETM. There is no link between IETM and 3d. If you have 3D animations or blowups, you can integrate into IETM. Understand the difference between IETM VS CBT VS Virtual reality. Another important point to check is which IETM level the client/ SCOPE is asking for. Generally, they may ask for Level 3 or Level 4. (If your RFQ is 5 years old around 2016-17 then they may ask for Level 2 or 3) Level -3 costs less price than Level -4. If you have a choice to select, then select IETM -3 as it is very economical. The latest RFPs / SCOPE asks for Level -4 only. Costing of IETM Application/Software Design Level of IETM, is it Level 3 or Level 4 Cost will be based on the number of pages that are to be converted. The vendor calculates the cost per page. And a fixed cost of IETM viewer software. If you want to create IETM by yourself self then you also need to buy IETM authoring software. How to Access the IETM IETM is a web-based application like our bank software or any other web application. The graphic user interface will be provided to use IETM through which users can interact and get the desired data. Like all other standard software, Unauthorized users cannot access the IETM. IETM is Login login-based application. Only users having valid Login credentials can access the software. Based on the user log credentials data will be provided to the user. IETM has 2 types of users and one Administrator. Maintainer Operator If the operator logs in, the user gets all the content related to operator use, similarly if the maintainer logs in only maintenance-related content is visible for that user. Ideally, all the content is available for both users, because the purpose of the IETM is to refer to the manual to fix the issue. Administrators can create users who can see the user’s navigation and log-in history and interact with the users using user dashboards through Annotations.


Which company has delivered the highest number of IETM projects in India?

Code and Pixels is among the very few companies in India that has delivered 125+ defence IETM projects, making it one of the most experienced and proven IETM solution providers in the country.


IETM vs PDF Manuals?

Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) is a digital, searchable, and organized version of an interactive user manual, instruction manual, or User Handbook. IETMs provide easy access to technical information and enhance defense equipment maintenance, training, and support processes. It also acts as digital repository for the system IETM or Interactive electronic Technical Manual, as the name indicates, it is a Manual which is interactive and in the form of electronic/digital. Then PDF file is also electronic/digital, will that be called IETM? Yes, undoubtedly PDF is also IETM. It's Level 2 IETM. IETM Level 1 and 2 are PDF files. IETM Levels 3 and 4 are not any document like MS Word or PDF file. IETM is a combination of Software and database. All the manuals are converted to SQL database. Using IETM Viewer, the user can access the data i.e. manuals, drawings, images, etc. IETM has 3 modes. User mode where users can access the documents. Admin mode where Admin can create users and track the activities of users. Super admin or Authoring tool, where all the manuals are converted to database using this authoring tool.


How is an IETM different from scanned manual?

An IETM is searchable, cross-linked, role based and interactive, allowing users to quickly locate procedures, parts, or faults. IETM Level 1 and 2 are PDF files. IETM Levels 3 and 4 are not any document like MS Word or PDF file. IETM is a combination of Software and database. All the manuals are converted to SQL database. Using IETM Viewer, the user can access the data i.e. manuals, drawings, images, etc. IETM has 3 modes. User mode where users can access the documents. Admin mode where Admin can create users and track the activities of users. Super admin or Authoring tool, where all the manuals are converted to database using this authoring tool.


IETM development process?

This article describes the end-to-end process of the IETM development and distribution. By the end of reading this article, you will know about How to start an IETM project? Detailed steps for developing IETM What is the authoring tool What is IETM Viewer Understanding about IETM By this time, you may be familiar with what is IETM. If not please refer to the links mentioned here, before reading this article. Outline of IETM IETM for beginners What is IETM and What is Not IETM? We strongly recommend you go through the above 3 links (5 minutes of reading time) before reading the below content) I will start with an example so that you will understand how IETMs are developed. Let us assume, you have to send an electrical wiring diagram to your client, what do you do? First, you open Auto Cad, design it, and save it as .dwg file , which is a source file. You won’t share the source file, because the recipient might update or edit the file or the recipient might not have AUTO cad software to open. Hence you convert that drawing to PDF and share it with them so that they can view the drawing but not edit it. In another scenario, assume that you want your recipient to edit the file. So, you share them .dwg but your client can not edit it, as they might not have Auto cad software installed on their PC. To edit the drawing, they need Auto cad which is called an authoring tool. To create cad drawings, you need tools like auto cad etc. Similarly, to create an IETM you need an authoring tool. The authoring tool is a piece of software which is used to build or develop IETMs. Using this software we develop IETMs


Features of Interactive Electronic Technical Manual Code and Pixels?

Features of IETM Software IETM comes with authoring tools, content management tools, and user management capabilities. Features like viewing activities, managing annotations, and managing bookmarks are all part of the user dashboard. We also discuss how administrators may access user login history, assessments, feedback, and other useful information. User Dashboard User Dashboard consists of features like Manage Bookmarks, Manage Annotations, View Activity, Enter IETM, and Logout. Admin Admin can control the document access based on user profile. That is, For the Operator user, only manuals related to the operator can be given access and for the maintainer user only Maintenance-related documents can be given access. Admin can see user login history and user Annotations and feedback etc. View Activity View Activity Feature consists of the Last login, Created Date and a Table with all the previous login and logouts displayed. Enter IETM This Feature enables the User to enter into IETM Core and access the IETM Data by selecting the desired module. IETM Core IETM core consists of an IETM Content section on the Right and a Tree Menu on the Left for navigation of content, IETM Core consists of Global Search, Local Search, Print, Annotation, Bookmark, Help and Select Module, History Navigation and Home options. Annotations An icon at the Top Right beside the Global Search with the Annotations Count of the particular page displays annotations. Users can select the text with the mouse and the Add Annotation option appears to users to add new annotations to the content page. Print IETM Core A print feature is provided in IETM Core to print the current page content. Bookmark A Bookmark Icon is provided at the top of the content section to bookmark a particular page and can be added by clicking the Bookmark icon, A popup with the Name Bookmark name field appears. Word Explainer The word explainer feature helps in providing a Description/Explanation to a word by clicking on the word and is highlighted with a colour in IETM Content. Image Explainer The image Explainer feature helps in linking a related image to a word in the IETM content, the word with the image explainer is highlighted with a colour in IETM content. Video Explainer The Video Explainer feature helps in linking a related Video to a word in the IETM content, the word with the video explainer is highlighted with a colour in IETM content. Hyperlinking The hyperlinking feature enables the user to navigate from one page to the other related hyperlinked page by mouse click, the hyperlinked data is highlighted with a colour and underlined. Image Viewer By clicking on an image or enlarging the icon of the image at the right bottom of the image respective image is displayed in a popup of the image viewer. Page Navigation Page navigation feature enables the user to navigate to the next and previous pages, by clicking on the Previous Button at the left bottom of the content area user gets to navigate to the previous page of the content. IETM Means Interactive Electronic Technical Manual IETM – Interactive Electronic Technical Manual History Navigation This IETM Software feature enables the user to navigate to his previous steps based on his navigation history of the current session, by clicking on the right arrow in the top header user gets navigated to the forward. Global Search Global Search provides a functionality to search a keyword with a matching page name and also content text from the entire IETM Core and the results are displayed in tabular format with Page Title and Module Name. By clicking the page title user gets navigated to that page. Local Search Local Search provides a functionality to search a keyword on the same page and the matching text is highlighted with a colour on that single page. Related Content Related Content features are located at the right bottom of the IETM content section. We can link the Related Pages of IETM Core, Document and Drawings which are related to this page content in this feature. Page Expand View The IETM Page can be expanded by clicking the arrow button provided at the bottom of the tree menu section. Manuals Tab The manuals tab is provided in the header above the tree menu. All the manuals related to this can be placed in this tab and can be viewed with the help of the PDF viewer provided in the IETM application. Help for IETM This consists of two pages About IETM and How to use IETM with the information related to IETM and a video on how to use IETM. Logout Logout enables the User to close his session log out from the IETM dashboard and redirect of application from his access to the login page of IETM.


what are the Inputs That Are Required to Make IETM Level-4?

What do we, Code and Pixels need to make IETM Level -4? Inputs that are required to make IETM level-4. or Contribution of OEM while developing the IETM. What Inputs Are Required to Make Ietm Level 4? To make IETM we need Inputs in the form of documents and a little guidance from Subject matter experts is needed from the OEM. IETM means Interactive electronic technical manuals. To make the IETM, we need all the manuals which are in electronic format. It means soft copies i.e. DOC files or PDF files of all the manuals finalized and reviewed by the relevant approval authority i.e. DGQC, MAG etc and all the Drawings, Images and Videos if you have any. Manuals Drawings Images / Videos Contribution of OEM while Developing the IETM Level 4 -Code and Pixels Documents Mean, What Are the Various Documents You Need? Based on your delivered equipment the type of documents may vary. A big system or Machinery will have many more documents than a small system or component. Hence, there is no fixed rule on what documents will go into the IETM. For example, as shown on the screen, a bigger system may have many documents compared to a smaller system. Assuming that the deliverable is a missile then a lot of documents go into the IETM. If the deliverable is some component or Pump or single Radar or small LRU, then fewer documents may go into the IETM database. Bigger System Smaller System User Handbook (UHB) User Handbook (UHB) Design Specification (DS) Technical Manuals (TM) Technical Manuals (TM) Illustrated Spare Parts List (ISPL) Illustrated Spare Parts List (ISPL) Manufactured Recommended List of Spars (MRLS) Manufactured Recommended List of Spars (MRLS) Diagnostics and Installation (DIM) Special Maintenance Tool & SPL Test EQPT (SMT & STE) Initial Stocking Guide (ISG) Maintenance Scale (MS) Permissive Repair Schedule (PRS) Inventory OEM Manuals Operating Manuals Combat Manuals Deployment manuals Air Transportation Manuals Document Variability in IETM Based on System Size and Complexity We also need Subject matter experts available to finalize IETM home page Module boxes, Table of Contents etc. Once the documents are converted to a database, then hyperlinking and Hot spots are done. With our knowledge, we will be able to make 50 % of interactivity between documents and topics. With the Guidance of Subject matter experts, other tasks like related topics linkage, Search indexing, and Hotspots will be done to complete the development process of IETM Level 4. Softcopies means, Documents in PDF or DOC format and kindly be sure that they are text copyable, not raster/ scanned images. In Summary: The support or inputs that we need from OEM is Documents/ Manuals and drawings and Images and Videos Subject Matter Expert’s guidance