Re: [Refdb-users] User feedback 1

[David N. <dav...@bi...>]

Hi Markus,

> I hope no one is going to laugh too loud, but I've got a small problem
> here: none of the systems that I currently work with creates any
> printable XML output at all.

FWIW, I'm running Debian testing/Sarge and already had passivetex
installed as a dependency of one of the LaTeX|TeX-based packages I've
previously used (mostly LyX).  When it came to using it with refdb,
passivetex worked "out of the box", requiring no alteration from me (aside
from the config file alterations you mention in the manual).

Presuming you can get a .fo file from xsltproc, there are a couple of ways
of getting PDF output:

The best way to get usable pdf output from a DocBook XML-generated .fo
file, IMHO, would be to use fop (as you mention trying out in another
reply).  The install is simple -- just decompress the files into the
desired directory (see
http://apache.planetmirror.com/dist/xml/fop/README.html).  I used the
instructions in Bob Stayton's book
(http://www.sagehill.net/docbookxsl/InstallingAnFO.html) to set it up.  He
mentions a number of ways to invoke fop, but I use a command like:
java -cp "CLASSPATH_AS_PER_BOB_STAYTONS_INSTRUCTIONS" \
    org.apache.fop.apps.Fop  \
    -fo  myfile.fo  \
    -pdf myfile.pdf

I've actually written a small shell script to make life easier which I'll
happily post if you like.  As a java app, fop should work on any of your
systems.

Bob has some strong opinions about the current compatibility of passivetex
and the DocBook XSL stylesheets, and recommends fop over passivetex.

RenderX's xep comes in a free trial version
(http://xep.xattic.com/xep/editions/trial.html) which prints documents up
to 10 pages.  It is a simple install as well -- decompress into a
directory and run with java.  It, too, works "out of the box" and could be
used for debugging.

Regards,
David.