editHelp!

For standards to be effective, usable and reliable, many skills are needed in their drafting. The required skills extend beyond putting technical ideas down onto paper - the way the information is structured and presented is just as important.

ETSI is committed to producing world class standards, and that includes making sure that drafting is done in a consistent and appropriate manner. So much so that it offers a dedicated service - editHelp! - to provide clear and reliable information and guidance on how to draft ETSI documents.

The editHelp!service is primarily concerned with assisting the drafters of ETSI documents (mainly technical Experts and Rapporteurs) on any matter they may have regarding their draft. It can be contacted by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and by phone ( +33 4 9294 4343 ).

However, it is equally important that the drafting moves in the right direction from the moment the first word of the document is written, using the appropriate formats, techniques and software tools. This helps to ensure that the document evolves in a way that is consistent with the ETSI style (which has been proved to be effective), and helps to avoid major complications (and delays) later in the drafting process.

With these goals in mind, the editHelp! web site provides essential information intended to facilitate the drafting of ETSI deliverables. The site provides various downloads:

  • 'Skeleton document': a pre-built ETSI document, already laid out as required and containing essential titles and text blocks
  • Template for use with Microsoft® Word, which contains a set of pre-defined styles simplifying the formatting of documents according to the ETSI drafting rules
  • The ETSI styles toolbar for the easy application of ETSI styles when working with Microsoft Word®.

The site also offers various guides to assist in creating the different types of ETSI deliverables, plus hints and short-cuts, all designed to help people involved in producing ETSI documents to achieve the very best results in the shortest possible time.