At 2010-01-05 09:11 -0500, Schultz, Len wrote:
I reached the same conclusion about using FO: it would be so much
work that it would not be worth it,
...
I don't know FO well, and don't know what it can and can't do
relative to WordML.
Then perhaps you've arrived at the incorrect conclusion.
unless there was a tool that could translate.
Translate what? Automatic translation from WordML to an XSLT
stylesheet running XSL-FO? Good luck! WordML is a serialization of
a proprietary word processor infernal (internal) format. XSL-FO is
pagination language for methodical rule-based layout.
I wanted to double check with the experts first.
I don't think you've given enough detail. I've produced some very
high quality layouts for customers by using XSL-FO very successfully.
Michael, you are right that almost no "amateur" users use the high
level structuring features: e.g. all spacing and pagination is done
with carriage returns. This will be one of the steps needed before
the transform is to apply consistent styles and structure to the
template before transformation.
And you both bring up a good point on the other approach: that a
simplified design kit with limited customization options might work
better for most restaurants. Most restaurants might get a better
product that way: a professionally designed and structured layout
with consistency.
Sounds like a job for XSL-FO to me.
This brings up another question I have. I don't know FO well, and
don't know what it can and can't do relative to WordML. E.g. in
WordML, I can specify a book fold: where the flow is presented on a
2 column landscape layout that can be folded in the middle to create a book.
In XSL-FO 1.1 I can set up two flow regions on a page with
appropriate margins such that folding the page in half creates a book-fold.
I can set this up with one parameter in WordML.
One parameter? I doubt that ... what about margins and
separation? In XSL-FO all you have to specify are the margins,
separation, regions and the flow map. It is all very straightforward
*when* you know what the processor can do.
What are FO's limitations relative to a powerful word processor or
page layout program?
Comparable ... the only nuance is that formatting in XSL-FO is
turnkey in that you set up the rules and the contingencies, and the
process runs to produce the output. There is no back-and-forth
negotiation of things like dynamically-variable font sizes.
So certainly there are places where XSL-FO cannot be used when the
rules cannot be expressed statically.
Also, does anyone have experience with commercial servers, such as
Quark Server, In Design Server, PageFlex, etc? If so, what do these
bring to the table that FO and WordML can't do?
I hope Dorothy Hoskins is reading this because I've seen her at
conferences present her work with InDesign and XML where such
back-and-forth interaction between layout and data is necessary that
cannot be achieved with something like XSL-FO.
But from the limited descriptions of your needs that I've read, you
don't have such back-and-forth copy-fitting requirements ... simply
layout requirements.
I hope this helps.
. . . . . . . . Ken
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