D
David Winter
(Sorry - couldn't find a generic DocBook NG - I hope this is close
enough.)
I'm considering moving my documentation and translation business -
which is currently done in proprietary formats such as FrameMaker,
Word and XPress - to a system centered around DocBook. I'm currently
reading "DocBook - The Definitive Guide", but I'll need a few answers
ASAP ... So maybe a kind soul could give me at least a few hints.
1) Storing documents in databases
Instead of working with large, "monolithic" files, I'd like to store
technical documents as collections of re-usable segments in a
database. So the document should only be some kind of "outline", while
the actual content of sections/paragraphs is written to/pulled from a
database on a local or remote server; sort of like includes.
Is this feasible for someone without an enterprise IT budget (i.e., a
freelance author/translator team), and what tools are involved? I
suppose you need an SQL DB, some kind of middleware and an XML editor.
Does anyone here have experience with working/reliable/affordable
setups?
2) DocBook to PDF
a) I understand that conversion to PDF is possible using FOP. The
question is: Is it also practical/realistical to use this in a
production environment? I.e., will it work reliably?
b) Can I expect features such as multi-column layouts, headers and
footers, multiple templates for cover, body, index pages, inclusion of
images etc.?
c) How does the Renderer/Objects Processor map internal
cross-references to pages? Is it possible to do cross-references such
as "see Section X on page y?"
3) Conditional text
Is it possible to specify formats to exclude sections of a document,
based on content, language or output format? I.e., I'd like to specify
attributes such as "Print Version only", "Digest/Full Version". Can
this be done?
4) "Locking" tags
If all this is possible, I'll use this setup with other
authors/translators. In this case, I'd like to keep them from
accidentally deleting markup. E.g., I'd like to duplicate an existing
German document and allow the English translator to modify/translate
text, but not delete or re-arrange headers and sections.
Are there editors that allow this kind of "granular" locking?
I know these are big issues, and I'll have to do a lot of Googling and
reading from here, anyway. But if someone could at least point me in
the right direction, I'd be grateful.
TIA.
enough.)
I'm considering moving my documentation and translation business -
which is currently done in proprietary formats such as FrameMaker,
Word and XPress - to a system centered around DocBook. I'm currently
reading "DocBook - The Definitive Guide", but I'll need a few answers
ASAP ... So maybe a kind soul could give me at least a few hints.
1) Storing documents in databases
Instead of working with large, "monolithic" files, I'd like to store
technical documents as collections of re-usable segments in a
database. So the document should only be some kind of "outline", while
the actual content of sections/paragraphs is written to/pulled from a
database on a local or remote server; sort of like includes.
Is this feasible for someone without an enterprise IT budget (i.e., a
freelance author/translator team), and what tools are involved? I
suppose you need an SQL DB, some kind of middleware and an XML editor.
Does anyone here have experience with working/reliable/affordable
setups?
2) DocBook to PDF
a) I understand that conversion to PDF is possible using FOP. The
question is: Is it also practical/realistical to use this in a
production environment? I.e., will it work reliably?
b) Can I expect features such as multi-column layouts, headers and
footers, multiple templates for cover, body, index pages, inclusion of
images etc.?
c) How does the Renderer/Objects Processor map internal
cross-references to pages? Is it possible to do cross-references such
as "see Section X on page y?"
3) Conditional text
Is it possible to specify formats to exclude sections of a document,
based on content, language or output format? I.e., I'd like to specify
attributes such as "Print Version only", "Digest/Full Version". Can
this be done?
4) "Locking" tags
If all this is possible, I'll use this setup with other
authors/translators. In this case, I'd like to keep them from
accidentally deleting markup. E.g., I'd like to duplicate an existing
German document and allow the English translator to modify/translate
text, but not delete or re-arrange headers and sections.
Are there editors that allow this kind of "granular" locking?
I know these are big issues, and I'll have to do a lot of Googling and
reading from here, anyway. But if someone could at least point me in
the right direction, I'd be grateful.
TIA.