The CSDB is the repository and management tool for all information objects required to produce the technical publications for a S1000D project. It can also be utilized for media output purposes including paper or electronic delivery.

The output media is usually dependant on customer requirements but can include traditional print, PDF and IETM (Interactive Electronic Technical Manual). The CSDB is also used to manage graphics usually archived in the CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile) format.

The major objective of the CSDB is to support the following tasks:

• The technical publications process
• Controlled authoring
• The Quality Assurance process
• Data exchange with partners, suppliers and customers
• Delivery of technical publications on various media, independent from the source storage format

When setting up the CSDB, S1000D only specifies the structure of the information objects. Therefore any database can be used to manage the information, in practice this will probably be an existing company database or content management system.

S1000D CSDB products can be purchased but it is the information objects that need to be compliant not the process of managing the data. The functionality of the CSDB will probably be based on the specific project requirements and business rules which govern this process.