Re: DTD - any info about them
Hi all===================================================
we are moving from FrameMaker to FrameMaker SGML with a view to producing
XML.
However, we know very little about producing a DTD. We have looked at
DocBook and have had various warnings from people about it being too large,
doesn't contain everything you'll need, a nightmare, etc.
What I really want to know is how hard is it to do your own DTD?
It is worth doing your own?
Are there any other commercially available DTDs apart from DocBook (relevant
to software industry)?
Should you use a well know DTD or is your own customized one better?
Any good books that might tell me what I need to know if I write my own?
I have a paper entitled "FrameMaker+SGML Information Design" that should
be of help. It's available as a PDF file at:
http://www.microtype.com/
When the home page comes up, click the Resources link in the left frame.
Under Resources, scroll down to Links to Other Resources. You'll find
5 or 6 papers there that I've written on various topics, one of which has
the title described above.
You will note that the document was originally created as a structured
document in FM+SGML, using an EDD of my own design. There is also
a companion DTD that was produced from this EDD.
If you're interested, I can send you an actual FM+SGML document, created
using the same EDD, that would allow you (in FM+SGML) to examine the
structural design in more detail. If that sample document whets your appetitie,
You could experiment further by:
1. Open a new empty double-sided document in FM+SGML.
2. Delete all tags/formats that are deletable from the Paragraph, Character,
Table, and Cross-Reference catalogs
3. Open the sample document.
4. With input focus in the new empty document:
a. Choose File > Import > Formats, and import all formats
from the sample document.
b. Choose File > Import > Element Definitions, and import
the element definitions from the sample document.
5. In the empty document, open the Element Catalog and the
Structure View.
6. Choose Element > Set Available Elements, and turn on
Valid Elements for Working Start to Finish.
7. In the Element Catalog, select and insert the TOP-DocFile element.
8. The element catalog will now tell you what elements are valid at the
insertion point. Start playing.
====================
| Nullius in Verba |
====================
Dan Emory, Dan Emory & Associates
FrameMaker/FrameMaker+SGML Document Design & Database Publishing
Voice/Fax: 949-722-8971 E-Mail: danemory -at- primenet -dot- com
10044 Adams Ave. #208, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
---Subscribe to the "Free Framers" list by sending a message to
majordomo -at- omsys -dot- com with "subscribe framers" (no quotes) in the body.
Previous by Author:
Re: Why RFEs don't work
Next by Author:
Re:National Writer's Union (way too long)
Previous by Thread:
Re: DTD - any info about them
Next by Thread:
Consulting Rates and Other Fun Stuff...
Search our Technical Writing Archives & Magazine
Visit TechWhirl's Other Sites
Sponsored Ads