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Dokiel

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Spec score 9.2 #1 of 37 in Technical Documentation Software

What it is

Dokiel is a free authoring tool for technical documentation and training media. It can produce user guides, tutorials, installation guides, specifications, reference websites, e-learning modules and self-assessments. Authors organize content into reusable pieces such as concepts, operating processes, interactive screens and synoptic trees. A single source can be published as PDF, web content or SCORM, and updates to reused pieces propagate to documents that use them. Variables, conditions, profiling and skins let teams adapt content and visual identity. Dokiel supports writing, review and validation in a client-server environment, and uses XML standards to store and exchange content. It can run on an organization's infrastructure or be hosted by a service provider. Options include the Dokiel desktop application, SCENARIchain or the MyScenari desktop application and service. MyScenari online production is available to Scenari association members, and it permits only Opale, Dokiel and OptimOffice document models.

Spec sheet

What it does
Dokiel creates technical documentation and training media for software publishers, manufacturers, IT teams and support services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Purpose
Dokiel creates technical documentation and training media.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Deployment
Dokiel can run in client-server mode on an organization's infrastructure or be hosted and administered by a service provider.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Support
Scenari provides documentation, tutorials, community training, a forum and access to service providers for assistance.Read 1 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Browser access
Scenari server editing is available through current Brave, Chrome, Chromium on Linux, Edge, Opera and Vivaldi browsers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Community governance
The Scenari association coordinates users and providers, collects feature requests and provides forums, webinars, meetings and MyScenari services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Company compliance record
Pappers shows zero collective proceedings, litigation and sanctions for the listed company record.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pappers.fr
Company founded
French company records list Kelis conseil & développement as created on 1 May 2004.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pappers.fr
Company headquarters
Kelis lists its headquarters at 9 rue du Gros Buisson, 60150 Thourotte, France.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Company legal name
The maker is Kelis conseil & développement, a variable-capital cooperative SARL (SCOP).Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Company ownership and capital
Pappers identifies Kelis as a cooperative SARL with €611,000 capital and €152,750 minimum variable capital.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pappers.fr
Company size
LinkedIn lists Kelis in the 11–50 employee range and identifies it as founded in 2004.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Content model
Dokiel structures content into reusable fragments such as concepts, operating processes, interactive screens and synoptic trees.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Customization
Dokiel supports variables, conditions, profiling and skins to adapt content and visual identity.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Desktop comparison
SCENARIchain-desktop installs the application and wsppacks separately, while MyScenari and business applications use one-step installation and automated updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Developer extension points
Advanced SCENARIbuilder training covers custom widgets, transformations, generators, deployment and open UI widgets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Developer prerequisites
Advanced modelling work expects HTML/CSS knowledge, XML languages such as XSLT/XPath and sometimes JavaScript.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Developer training price
Kelis lists advanced SCENARIbuilder training at 1,110 € excluding tax (1,332 € including tax) per day, for one to three days.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Documentation outputs
It produces web and PDF user guides, tutorials, installation and operating guides, specifications and multi-entry reference websites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Dokiel licence page
A Dokiel download page lists MPL 2.0, GPL 3.0, LGPL 3.0 and CeCILL 2.1 as selectable open-source licences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · dokiel.eu
Extensibility
Kelis uses open-source SCENARIbuilder for custom editorial solutions and can modify the core, models and graphic charters.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Hosting backups
Hosted environments receive at least daily backups on a second datacentre, retained by default for one month.Read 15 Oct 2026 · dokiel.fr
Hosting location
Kelis says its hosted servers are in secure French data centres operated on OVHcloud infrastructure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · dokiel.fr
Hosting security
Kelis hosting states that client-to-server traffic is encrypted and servers are isolated behind a firewall.Read 15 Oct 2026 · dokiel.fr
Implementation modes
Users can install the Dokiel wsppack in SCENARIchain, use a Dokiel desktop application or use MyScenari.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Implementation options
Users can install the Dokiel wsppack in SCENARIchain, use the Dokiel desktop application, or use the MyScenari desktop application and service.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Limit: review anchoring
Forum users reported that review comments were attached at block level and could be detached from the specific text or image being discussed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forums.scenari.org
Limit: review feature timing
A forum discussion says more precise correction tracking was expected in a later Dokiel version, implying users had to wait for that capability.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forums.scenari.org
Limit: training-model boundary
Community discussion reports that users may need Opale or Topaze for some formative resources and question workflows, with no universal model covering every use case.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forums.scenari.org
Limit: UX
An independent discussion says the documentation is better than average but may be too technical and that user experience could be improved with more contextual help.Read 15 Oct 2026 · agora.les-cae.coop
Multi-format publishing
The same fragments can be published to PDF, web and SCORM formats.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
MyScenari eligibility
MyScenari online production and distribution service is available to members of the Scenari association.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
MyScenari limitation
MyScenari permits only the Opale, Dokiel and OptimOffice document models and does not allow installing other document models.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Notable news: Scenari 6.5
Kelis announced availability of Scenari version 6.5 on its home page during 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Open-source licences
Scenari source code is offered under MPL 1.1, GPL 2.0, LGPL 2.1 or CeCILL 2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Outputs
It produces user guides, tutorials, installation guides, specifications, reference websites, e-learning modules and self-assessments.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
PDF generation limitation
Kelis documents limitations in automated PDF rendering, including incomplete CSS3 support, no pre-render JavaScript and pagination gaps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.kelis.fr
Praise: content reuse
A user testimonial praises Dokiel’s combination of documentation and training content plus variable-based configuration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Praise: formats and accessibility
A 2025 testimonial reports complete distribution through adaptive, accessible HTML and PDF outputs for technical and legal documentation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Praise: multi-publication
A Scenari community testimonial says Dokiel simplified updating CYCLADES documentation and enabled a move from PDFs to searchable HTML.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Profiling and navigation
Reference sites can expose search, procedure indexes, glossaries and theme trees with profile-based content customization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Publishing formats
A single source can be published to PDF, web and SCORM formats.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Reusable fragments
Authors structure content as reusable concepts, operating processes, interactive screens and synoptic trees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Reuse
Content fragments can be reused across multiple documents without duplication, and updates propagate to documents that use them.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Security and privacy
The Association Scenari says users own their content and that personal data is not exploited except for anonymized internal statistics or important service notices, and is never sold or transferred.Read 1 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Self-hosting
Dokiel can run client-server on an organization’s infrastructure or be hosted by a service provider.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Single-source reuse
A fragment update propagates to every document that references it, reducing duplicate maintenance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Standards
Dokiel uses XML standards to store and exchange content.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Target users
Dokiel is intended for technical writers and trainers at software editors, manufacturers, IT management teams and support services.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Team workflow
Writing, review and validation are supported in a client/server environment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Teamwork
The documentation describes writing, review and validation in a client/server environment.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Training outputs
Training outputs include projected slideshows, trainee and trainer booklets, e-learning modules and self-assessments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Translation
Dokiel supports managing and tracking documentation translations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Variables and conditions
Variables and conditions let one documentation set serve different products or variants.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
Web access
The MyScenari service is accessible through updated Brave, Chrome, Chromium on Linux deliveries, Edge, Opera and Vivaldi browsers.Read 1 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software
XML exchange
Content is stored and exchanged using XML standards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · doc.scenari.software

Plans and prices

Dokiel Free open-source Scenari publishing chain · desktop or SCENARIchain installation Read 1 Oct 2026 · scenari.org
Dokiel hosting (Scenari Online) €420 a year 420 € excluding taxes (504 € including all taxes) annually Unlimited users · 20 Go storage · incident reporting with guaranteed response delay · French and English Dokiel · server updates Read 15 Oct 2026 · dokiel.fr

Every Dokiel plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Publishes one source to PDF, web and SCORM.
  • Reusable fragments carry updates into associated documents.
  • Supports review and validation in client-server work.
  • Runs on organizational infrastructure or provider hosting.
  • Documentation, tutorials, training and forum support are listed.

Limits

  • MyScenari online production is limited to association members.
  • MyScenari permits only three document models.
  • The MyScenari browser service requires an updated supported browser.

Who it suits

Dokiel suits technical writers and trainers at software editors, manufacturers, IT management teams and support services. It is a fit for teams producing multiple formats from reusable, structured content.

Dokiel in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Dokiel is a structured authoring system for technical documentation and training media. It is best suited to professional writing and training teams that maintain several related publications from shared material. The free, open-source publishing chain is particularly compelling when one source must serve print, web and learning platforms.

Key features

Dokiel models information as reusable fragments, including concepts, operating procedures, interactive screens and synoptic trees. The same fragment can appear in multiple documents, with later edits flowing through every use. That sharply reduces duplicated maintenance for recurring instructions, although authors must accept a more formal content model than a general-purpose word processor.

A single source can become user guides, tutorials, installation guides, specifications, reference websites, e-learning modules and self-assessments. PDF, web and SCORM publishing cover printed distribution, online reference and learning-management delivery without separate source files. Variables, conditions, profiling and skins let teams tailor wording, inclusion rules and visual identity for different audiences or editions.

Writing, review and validation workflows operate in a client/server environment, making Dokiel suitable for coordinated authoring rather than only individual work. XML standards provide a structured basis for storing and exchanging content, and translation support is built into the authoring model. Single-sourcing is central: reuse is a practical advantage when products, procedures or courses overlap.

Pricing

The Dokiel plan costs free. It is an open-source Scenari publishing chain available through a desktop or SCENARIchain installation, with no seat charge or subscription term stated. This is the right fit for organizations that can operate their own authoring setup and want the full Dokiel model without licensing expenditure.

MyScenari adds an online production and distribution route, but access requires membership in the Scenari association. Its online environment is limited to the Opale, Dokiel and OptimOffice document models and does not permit installing other models, so teams needing a broader Scenari catalogue should use a different deployment. Scenari also offers documentation, tutorials, community training, a forum and access to service providers, which can reduce the burden of adopting a structured workflow.

Platforms

Dokiel runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, and can be deployed as self-hosted client-server software or accessed on the web. Implementation choices include installing the Dokiel wsppack in SCENARIchain, using the Dokiel desktop application, or using the MyScenari desktop application and service. MyScenari web access supports current Brave, Chrome, Chromium on Linux deliveries, Edge, Opera and Vivaldi browsers.

Self-hosting keeps deployment on an organization's infrastructure; alternatively, a service provider can host and administer it. The Scenari Association states that users retain ownership of their content, personal data is not exploited beyond anonymized internal statistics or important service notices, and data is not sold or transferred.

Who it's for

Dokiel targets technical writers and trainers in software publishers, manufacturers, IT-management departments and support services. Choose it when the same concepts and procedures must stay synchronized across manuals, reference sites and SCORM courses, or when review and validation need a shared client/server process. It is less suitable for authors seeking an unstructured, free-form editor or organizations unwilling to manage a structured publishing chain.

Pros and cons

Pros

Free open-source plan: the Dokiel chain costs 0.00 USD, making structured multi-format publishing accessible without per-author fees.

Reliable reuse: shared fragments and propagated updates reduce inconsistencies between related documents.

Broad output coverage: PDF, web and SCORM support print, reference and e-learning delivery from one source.

Flexible deployment: desktop, SCENARIchain, self-hosted client/server and hosted service options fit different IT policies.

Controlled variation: variables, conditions, profiling and skins support audience-specific content and branding.

Cons

Structured-authoring commitment: the fragment-based model can be a poor match for teams that want conventional free-form page editing.

MyScenari restrictions: association membership is required, and the online service supports only three document models.

Operational responsibility: self-hosted and client/server deployments place setup and administration with the organization unless a service provider is engaged.

Alternatives

XMLmind XML Editor is a better choice for a general XML editor with a free Personal Edition, optional professional conversion and DOCX import, and Linux, macOS, web and Windows support.

HelpNDoc suits Windows users who want a freemium documentation tool, with a personal edition restricted to non-commercial use and a discreet banner.

QuarkXPress is the alternative when a paid, broad-platform desktop publishing application is preferred, with annual prepaid subscription terms.

Dr.Explain fits Windows authors wanting a free restricted license capped at 20 topics or a paid five-user business subscription.

Paligo is aimed at organizations ready for a paid, web-based component authoring service, with Business pricing from $15,000 a year for two authors and two languages.

Oxygen XML Editor is a paid XML-editing alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows, with a Professional 12-month subscription priced at $34 a year.

Creo is an alternative for teams seeking a paid, cross-platform design application with floating organizational licenses.

MadCap Flare suits web-and-Windows teams wanting a commercial topic and micro-content authoring product, with Starter at $3,150 per year.

For broader comparisons, see Help Authoring Tools and Technical Documentation Software.

Verdict

Choose Dokiel if your team needs a cost-free, standards-based source that can keep technical and training content synchronized across PDF, web and SCORM, with review workflows and flexible deployment. Look elsewhere if you need unrestricted document models in a hosted service or a conventional free-form editor rather than structured, reusable authoring.

Verdict

Dokiel's reusable content model and three publishing formats suit teams maintaining related technical and training materials. MyScenari has membership and model restrictions, while desktop and SCENARIchain options are also available.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to DokielAll alternatives →