On 21 Nov 1997, Ben Pfaff wrote:
> Thanks for the concise summary of what SGML and DSSSL are and how they > relate to a PageMaker-type tool. > > Jason Gunthorpe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > The thing is, SGML, DSSSL and HyTime are amazingly general. There is very > > little text processing that they cannot deal with when combined. > > Of course the huge benifit from using standard file formats for your Style > > and Document storage is that you do not tie the user to your program, but > > give them the freedom to use anything which complies to the ISO standards. > > There is very little *text* processing they cannot do; but can they > handle graphics competently? Well, this is were I am way out of my field :> But let us speculate. I know SGML can reference external data files, either through SGML identifiers or through application specific attributes. I also you know you can assign whatever data you like to a SGML tag. DSSSL can be extended to support non-standard extensions (See Jade's HTML output extension) so if something was needed that it couldn't handle then simply add an extension. I would be amazed if they didn't include some thought to graphics being included though... DSSSL is a large language so something must be hidden in there someplace! > > The only trouble is such a tool would only be able to deal with a very > > specific form of DSSSL data files to enable interactive editing of the > > style data... > > Yes, certainly. Am I correct in thinking that DSSSL is > Turing-complete? I think I heard that someplace. I also seem to recall hearing that DSSSL was Scheme based. Another important thing to realize is that alot of the generated content in some documents like table of contents and so on can actually be handled by DSSSL, it can generate new text elements, re-arrange existing elements and many other processing needs beyond simple style. A truely usefull interactive tool would allow a combination of interactive style editing and hand coded DSSSL elements :> Jason -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
