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ALTO, or Analyzed Layout and Text Object, is a standardized XML format that captures the layout, structure, and textual content of digitized documents. Developed within the context of the Digital Preservation community, ALTO aims to provide a comprehensive representation of both the visual and textual elements of scanned materials, making it particularly useful for libraries, archives, and other institutions engaged in the preservation and dissemination of historical documents.
The format allows for the detailed description of the document's layout, including the positioning of text blocks, lines, and characters, which is crucial for accurately representing the original appearance of printed materials. This attention to layout detail ensures that users can reproduce the document visually, which is essential for scholarly work and archival purposes.
ALTO files can include rich metadata, such as information about the font, language, and other attributes of the text, enabling better indexing and search capabilities. This makes it easier for researchers and historians to locate specific information within vast archives of digitized content.
Since ALTO is based on XML, it is both human-readable and machine-readable, ensuring that it can be easily processed by software applications while remaining accessible for manual inspection. This dual capacity enhances its usability in various contexts, from automated processing to manual review by archivists and researchers.
The format is commonly used in conjunction with other standards in the digital preservation community, such as METS (Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard) and MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema), to create integrated workflows for managing digitized collections.
Furthermore, ALTO facilitates interoperability among different systems and platforms by providing a common framework for describing document layouts and textual content. This is particularly important in projects that involve collaboration among multiple institutions, allowing for consistent data exchange and reuse.
Overall, ALTO serves as a vital tool in the ongoing efforts to digitize, preserve, and provide access to historical texts, ensuring that valuable information is available for future generations.