TimBox® is a "transparent" XML authoring software allowing to produce any type of manuals (user-manuals, maintenance manuals, user guides, etc.) and on-line helps directly from a task model. TimBox outputs documents in different formats: PDF, RTF, XML and HTML (the latter can also be compiled into CHM format). TimBox® is a TimGroup (www.timgroup.fr) product released in november 2008.

Content is entered in TimBox® by simply setting up a task model (no XML knowledge is required from the user). Tasks within a project are organised into a task tree allowing any levels of sub-tasks. Some crucial distinctions between task types can be expressed in TimBox®, such as conditional tasks, cyclic tasks, alternative tasks, etc. Pre- and Post-conditions, Input, Output and Procedure can be described in detail; text and images can be used to this end.

TimBox® includes task libraries as well as a facility to store and paste frequently used expressions. Documents are created by a simple click on the desired export format button. Any type of information can be freely attached to tasks via user-defined or ready-to-use information structures. As layout is XSLT-driven, the same content can be output in different presentations by simply changing the style sheet upon creation of a document.