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We are familiar with XML and SGML.
As stated in my post, we already have such an application that we cannot
use anymore so we are looking for alternatives. Do you have any
experience or exposure to such a tool? MIF2GO has been suggested.
Best regards,
Darren
-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot-
com] On Behalf Of Geoff Hart
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:03 AM
To: techwr-l List; Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC
Subject: MIF to XML/SGML conversion?
Darren Butler wondered: <<Does anyone know of an application that
converts MIF to XML and/or SGML...>>
Not an expert on the conversion process, but I do know enough to
remind you that XML and SGML are not "just another file format". The
distinguishing characteristic of these two formats, unlike most other
file formats, is that they are (or should be) structured and governed
by a DTD. (So is HTML, but the structural aspects of an HTML document
are so loose and so poorly enforced that you might as well not
bother.) DTDs focus on the functional relationships between the parts
of a document, not on the formatting, and if you are like most of us
(me included), you have probably created documents that only fit this
criterion about 90% (the number is obviously fuzzy).
So before you attempt the conversion, spend some time making sure
that your document structure is sufficiently rigorous that XML or
SGML is an appropriate choice of output format. If this isn't the
case, you'll need to spend some time cleaning up the structure before
you do the conversion. For complicated documents, DTD design is not
for the faint of heart, and requires a degree of rigor in writing
that few of us apply to our writing.
----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
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