[Docutils-users] New writer `rst2gxl`

[Stefan M. <sm...@oe...>]

Hi!

I just put a new writer `rst2gxl` to `sandbox/rst2gxl`.

This writer is written to visualize the reference structure in a reST
file. My main use is to set up tables like this:

.. list-table:: Tasks and their dependencies

   * * Name of task
     * Dependencies
     * Description

   * * _`One`
     * \-
     * Some description

   * * _`Two`
     * One_
     * Another description

   * * _`Three`
     * One_, Two_
     *

However, it is also useful to show references between sections.

The writer outputs GXL_ which then can be rendered into figures by
dot and friends from the Graphviz_ project. It works like this::

  rst2gxl.py --select-table='Tasks and their dependencies' document.rst | gxl2dot > document.dot
  dot -Tgif document.dot > document.gif

.. _GXL: http://www.gupro.de/GXL
.. _Graphviz: http://www.graphviz.org/

The most interesting question is what to consider the right node a
reference starts from. Currently it's the last anchor seen but this
could be not what is wanted in some cases.

The script is self-contained and needs no installation.

I consider this a start which will be extended step by step by other
use cases. Extensions are welcome.


						Grüße

						Stefan