> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://intuitem.gitbook.io/ciso-assistant/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://intuitem.gitbook.io/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring.md).

# Authoring

This section gathers the **authoring guidelines** — the conventions, structure, and pitfalls to keep in mind when you create the content that drives CISO Assistant: frameworks, risk matrices, journey presets, and Excel-driven library content.

Authoring is a separate discipline from running the platform. Once content has been authored, it's loaded through the [Libraries](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/libraries.md) section and behaves the same as any built-in content — versioned, upgradable, exportable. The pages here focus on *writing the content*, not on loading it.

For frameworks, matrices, and presets, the **recommended path is the in-app visual editor** — they all ship with a dedicated builder under the `/experimental/` namespace, complete with draft/publish lifecycle, live preview, real-time validation, and multi-language support. Excel-driven authoring remains the right channel for library publishing across instances.

Each authoring topic is organised as **a task-oriented main page + a deep reference subpage**. Start with the task page when you know what you're trying to do; jump to the reference when you need to know what a specific surface does or how a particular flow works in detail.

## What's in this section

* [Framework authoring](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/framework.md) — recipes for forking a framework, building a requirement tree, scoring, translating, and publishing.
  * [Framework builder — reference](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/framework/framework-builder.md) — every surface in the framework builder, end to end.
* [Risk matrix authoring](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/matrix.md) — recipes for creating a matrix, forking from a library, editing the grid, applying palettes, translating, and publishing.
  * [Matrix editor — reference](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/matrix/matrix-editor.md) — every surface in the matrix editor, end to end.
* [Journey preset authoring](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/preset.md) — recipes for building step sequences, scaffolding objects, cross-step focus, and publishing.
  * [Preset editor — reference](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/preset/preset-editor.md) — every surface in the preset editor, end to end.
* [Excel-driven authoring](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/authoring/excel.md) — the recommended workflow for authoring frameworks, matrices, and other library content from Excel before conversion to YAML.

## When to read this section

* You're building your own framework (industry-specific, internal policy, regulatory adaptation) and want to do it right the first time.
* You're **forking an existing framework** as a baseline — copying a built-in or community library, then tuning it to your context (renaming the URN, pruning, adding in-house requirements) rather than starting from a blank page.
* You're modelling a custom risk matrix that needs to match your enterprise's existing risk taxonomy.
* You're standardising a journey preset for a recurring assessment pattern (yearly ISO audit, supplier onboarding, new project intake).
* You want to understand the editorial rules behind the platform's built-in content before contributing or forking it.

## Related

* [Libraries](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/libraries.md) — how to load, upgrade, and clean up authored content.
* [Designing your own libraries](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/configuration/libraries/custom-libraries.md) — the full Excel-to-YAML workflow that backs framework and matrix authoring.
* [Contributing → Frameworks and libraries](/ciso-assistant/product-docs/contributing/framework.md) — how to upstream authored content to the community library.


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