Re: [A-a-p-user] Docbook notes (was: About the docs)

[Bram M. <Br...@mo...>]

Jean Jordaan wrote:

> > I don't know the essential difference between SGML docbook and XML
> > docbook.  Can both be converted to nice HTML and PDF?
> 
> They're meant to be equivalent to write with. Docbook XML can be
> processed with more tools, and the XML stylesheets are under more
> active development as far as I can tell.
> 
> I'd recommend using the XML version.

I suppose I'll be looking for a tool to do the conversion then.

> Here is a book about the XSL stylesheets in particular:
>    DocBook XSL: The Complete Guide
>    Bob Stayton
>    http://www.sagehill.net/docbookxsl/
> It has information about the transformation tools that may be used
> with Docbook XML (eg. xsltproc, xalan, saxon; fop, passivetex).

I attended a tutorial by Bob Stayton at OSCON.  Clearly he knows what he
is talking about, but unfortunately his presentation style wasn't very
good.  Starting with explaining how the tools work in detail, while you
haven't seen any docbook file yet isn't a good idea.  Only halfway he
explained what <para> is used for...

Anyway, thanks for the links, they can be helpful when I get stuck.

> > The less tools we need the better.
> 
> Always true .. XML is a good choice, since you probably need XML tools
> anyway, and Python includes good XML support.

XML is a nice format for computers, not for humans!

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