Abstract: An electronic document is generated in a highly automatic manner from a component part repository. Information blocks in the component part repository, such as information relating to a particular part in a engineering design, are stored instances of a common data model. The electronic document can be quickly and efficiently generated from the information blocks using scripting programs and document definition files designed to define the layout of the electronic manual. The tools used to create the electronic manual are highly re-useable and adaptable, allowing new documents for new customers to be created quickly and efficiently. Once created, a document may be distributed electronically over a network to the customer.