SGML at Work - Book Description


USENET News Posting
Author:   Dan Vint
Email:    dvint@slip.net
Date:     1998/09/06
Forums:   comp.text.sgml, comp.text.xml

Now available at your local bookstore:

Title:  SGML at Work
Series: Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference 
Author: Danny R. Vint
Pub:    Prentice Hall PTR (Upper Saddle River, NJ)
Date:   August 1998
ISBN:   0-13-636572-8
Extent: 1024 pages, CDROM
Price:  $55.00
URL:    http://www.slip.net/~dvint/book.html
Prenhall: http://www.prenhall.com/allbooks/ptr_0136365728.html

Description
-----------

"SGML at Work" contains 16 chapters divided into 5 parts to provide
you with a start to finish methodology for implementing (not how to
decide to implement) an SGML/XML based publishing system.

"SGML at Work" explores describes and gives insight into the following:
        - Now that I've decided to use SGML/XML how do I get started?
        - What will be the organizational changes brought on by the new 
          system?
        - Should I use consultants or train internal staff?
        - How do I bring the internal staff up to speed in SGML/XML?
        - What tools are available?
        - How do I build a DTD to handle my legacy documentation?
        - What is a good way to convert my documents?
        - What is an SGML document management system?
        - What about my graphics - sure SGML is great for text, but how do 
          illustrations get converted and managed with these new tools?
        - Why should I use vector graphics instead of raster?
        - How to I find out about the native format of my documents so I can 
          write a conversion?
        - Gee! there are a lot of tools that I need, where do I start?
        
        
Described in this book is the JETT methodology for implementing SGML
systems.  "SGML at Work" takes a sample FrameMaker document (could
have been any format), through the process of defining a DTD, DTD
documentation and development tools, building the conversions and
converting the document, refining the DTD, building SGML editing
environments, SGML hardcopy and on-line publishing, to how to
implement an SGML document management and workflow system.

No other book provides you with the ability to hit the ground
running. Some of today's foremost SGML tools are used and demonstrated
(some with implementations already to use on the CD-ROM included with
the book), like:

        SGML Editors
                o Arbortext ADEPT*Editor and Document*Architect
                o Corel Ventura 7
                o Corel WordPerfect 8
                o Grif SGML Editor
                o InContext

        DTD tools
                o Near & Far Designer - also packaged as Corel Visual DTD
                o SGML Companion Browser
                o dtd2html

        Hardcopy presentation tools
                o OmniMark conversion from SGML to RTF
                o DSSSL formatting with JADE

        On-line presentation tools
                o SoftQuad Panorama Pro and Viewer
                o INSO DynaText
                o INSO DynaWeb
                o TechnoTeacher HyBrowse

        Document management
                o Texcel Information Manager

        Graphics Tools
                o SnagIt
                o MetaPrint
                o LviewPro
                o HiJaak
                o GhostScript/GhostView
                o Image Alchemy

        Programming Tools
                o Perl
                o awk
                o OmniMark

Below you will find the complete Table of Contents, list of programs
developed, and the back cover description of this book.


Table of Contents
------------------

Preface
        About this book
        About the author
        Acknowledgments
        Conventions
        
PART I Foundations
------------------
        1 What is Publishing?
                Publishing Roles
                Publication Types
                        Regulated documents
                        Technical documents
                        Database generated documents
                        Interactive documents
        2 What is a desktop publishing system?
                Parts of a desktop publishing system
                        Graphical User Interface (GUI)
                        Markup
                        Support Utilities
                        Multimedia support
                        Operating system interface
                        Conventions
        3 What is an SGML publishing system?
                An SGML publishing system compared to a DTP System
                        Graphical User Interface (GUI)
                        Markup
                        Support Utilities
                        Multimedia support
                        Operating system interface
                        Conventions
                General SGML implementation considerations
                        Declaration file
                        Entities
                                Special characters
                                External files and references
                        SGML features
        4 The JETT Implementation Methodology
                Get something working
                Start simple
                Build internal expertise
                Build an enterprise solution
                        SGML is more than just documents

PART II Design
--------------

        5 Analyzing documents for a DTD
                Document analysis
                        Skills required
                        Document Analysis methodology
                                Industry standard DTDs
                                Types of documents
                                Hardcopy requirements
                                How many DTDs are needed?
                        Developing a DTD
                                Sample documents
                                        Your document samples
                                Analyzing the sample document
        6 DTD design and documentation tools
                DTD development tools
                        Near & Far Designer
                                Installation
                                Configuration
                                Using the Near & Far Designer
                        SGML Companion DTD Browser
                                Installation
                                Configuration
                                Using the SGML Companion DTD browser
                DTD documentation methods
                        SGML Sample document
                                Documentation sample
                                Test sample
                         dtd2html
                                Installation
                                Configuration
                                Using dtd2html
        7 Converting legacy text documents
                Introduction to conversion
                Data collection methodology
                What to do with a new format
                        Learning phase
                        Conversion program
                        Conversion tools
                Selected text formats
                        nroff/troff
                        Interleaf
                                Interleaf ASCII format (IAF)
                                Output to Interleaf
                        Adobe FrameMaker
                                Output to FrameMaker
                        Microsoft Word
                                Output to Microsoft Word
                        Getting into SGML
                Conversion Programming
                        Support tools
                                Configuring OmniMark emacs mode
                                Using vim
                                Using tail and head
                                Using grep
                        Programming tools
                                awk
                                Perl
                                OmniMark
                        OmniMark conversion programs
                                Extracting information from a MIF book file
                                Finding referenced files in a MIF file
                                Listing the styles in a MIF file
                                Simple report on the contents of a MIF file
                                Converting from MIF to SGML
        8 Converting legacy document graphics
                Desktop publishing tools and graphics
                Converting graphics
                        Raster formats
                                Tagged image file format (TIFF)
                                Graphics interchange format (GIF)
                                JPEG
                        Vector Formats
                                PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript
                                Computer graphics metafile (CGM)
                                Initial graphics interchange specification 
                                        (IGES)
                Graphic conversion programs
                Capturing the sample graphics
                        Capturing images with SnagIt
                        Capturing images with MetaPrint
                                Working with CGM files
                                
PART III Construction
---------------------

        9 Arbortext ADEPT*Editor and Document*Architect
                Installation
                Using Document*Architect
                        Building the sample DTD application
                SGML file cleanup
                        Enhancing the sample application
                Defining a screen FOSI
                        A tour of the FOSI editor
                        Modifying the default screen FOSI
                        Changes to the sample.dtd
                        Installing the sample application
                Using ADEPT*Editor
                        New document creation
                        SGML settings and special tools
                        Entity creation and manipulation
                                Creating character entities
                                Creating file entities
                                Editing file entities
                                Creating a graphic entity
                                Creating a notation type
                                Working with PUBLIC identifiers
                        Navigating an SGML document
                                Find tools
                                HyperTOC Panel
                                Collapsing an elements content
                        Working with elements
                                Inserting an element
                                Splitting an element
                                Joining an element
                                Changing an element
                                Modifying element attributes
                        Editing a selection as ASCII markup
                        Checking IDs and IDREFs
                        Creating a new table
                        Turning off rules checking
                        Validating an SGML document
                Observations
        10 Grif SGML Editor
                Installation
                Configuring Grif for a DTD
                Using the Grif editor
                        New document creation
                        Working with elements
                                Inserting an element
                                Splitting an element
                                Surrounding an element
                                Changing an element
                                Modifying attributes
                        Entity creation and manipulation
                                Creating character entities
                                Creating a graphic entity
                        Creating a new table
                        Validating an SGML document
                Observations
        11 Corel WordPerfect 8
                Native vs. non-native SGML support
                Installing WordPerfect 8 SGML features
                Configuring WordPerfect 8 SGML features
                        Adding entities to the map file
                        Compiling the DTD
                        Creating a layout
                        Defining a second style sheet
                Using WordPerfect 8
                        Loading a new document type
                        Starting a new SGML document
                        Inserting an element
                        Splitting an element
                        Editing element attributes
                        Creating character entities
                        Creating file entities
                        Creating a graphic entity
                        Checking IDs and IDREFs
                        Creating a new table
                        Validating an SGML document
                Observations
        12 Corel Ventura 7
                Installing Ventura 7 with SGML tools
                Configuring InContext v2.2
                Configuring Corel Visual DTD
                Configuring Ventura 7 SGML features
                        Adding entities to the map file
                        Compiling the DTD
                        Creating a Ventura 7 layout
                        Configuring the DTD in Ventura
                Using the InContext editor
                        Defining an InContext ATD
                        Defining an InContext style sheet
                        Creating an InContext template document
                        The logical and content editors
                        SGML settings and special tools
                        Creating character entities
                        Creating file entities
                        Creating a NOTATION
                        Creating a graphic entity
                        Viewing IDs
                        Creating a new table
                        Managing elements
                                Inserting an element
                                Splitting an element
                                Collapsing element content
                                Editing element attributes
                        Printing the document to RTF
                Observations
                        InContext editor
                        Ventura 7
                        
PART IV Delivery
----------------

        13 Delivering documents in hardcopy
                OmniMark down translate
                        OmniMark entity management configuration
                        Converting from SGML to RTF with OmniMark
                An introduction to DSSSL
                JADE
                        Installing Jade
                        Configuring Jade
                        Creating a DSSSL format specification
        14 Delivering documents on-line
                TechnoTeacher's HyBrowse
                        Installation
                        Configuration
                                Building the HyBrowse style sheet
                INSO's DynaText
                        Installation
                        Configuration
                                Configuring the collection
                        Building the DynaText style sheets with InStEd
                                TOC style sheets
                                Print style sheets
                        Using DynaText
                Recommendations
                Observations
        15 SGML and the WWWW
                SoftQuad Panorama Pro
                        Installation
                        Configuration
                        Building a stylesheet
                                Viewing stylesheet
                                Navigation stylesheet
                        Installing Panorama Pro stylesheets
                        Configuring your web browser to use Panorama Pro
                        Using Panorama Pro
                                Text searching
                                Webs
                                Printing
                        Panorama Viewer evaluation software
                                Installation and configuration
                                Using Panorama Viewer
                INSO DynaWeb
                        Installation
                        Configuration
                        Building a stylesheet
                        Using DynaWeb documents
                                Changing the DynaWeb display
                What is XML?
                
PART V Management
-----------------

        16 Document management systems
                Installation of Texcel Information Manager
                        Building the IM environment
                                Build a workflow database
                                Starting the initial servers
                                Administering the IM system
                                Creating a document repository database
                        Modifying the Arbortext environment
                                Modifying the Adept environment
                                Modifying the DTD
                                Modifying the screen FOSI
                        Projects and roles
                                Creating a project
                                Creating a user role
                        Starting IM after a shutdown
                        Loading the repository
                                Loading a DTD
                                Loading SGML documents
                                Loading file objects
                        IM system administration
                        Workflow management
                                Creating a process model
                Using Texcel Information Manager
                        Direct repository use
                                Document browser
                                Editing sections of content
                        Using electronic review
                                Reviewing a document
                                Autocomment mode revisions
                                Incorporating review comments
                                Reviewing comment status
                        Using a workflow
                                Creating a workflow case
                Observations
Glossary

Appendix A SGML 101: How to read a DTD
        Parts of an SGML document
        Portability
                PUBLIC identifiers
        Structure
                Element declarations
                Entities
                        Parameter entities
                        General entities
                        System identifiers
                        Entity references
                Notation declaration
        Miscellaneous Concerns
                Comments
                Processing instructions
                Error messages
Appendix B Unicode Quick Reference
Appendix C SGML Tools and Vendors
        DTD development and documentation tools
        SGML Editors
        SGML Programming tools
        SGML document management systems
        Shareware Tools
Appendix D SGML at Work sample document
Appendix E CD-ROM Contents
Appendix F Related Standards
Appendix G Further Reading




Sample code
-----------

        OmniMark Code to:
                        o extract information from a FrameMaker book file
                        o find referenced files in a FrameMaker file
                        o list the styles in a FrameMaker file
                        o generate a simple report on the contents of a 
                           FrameMaker file
                        o convert from FrameMaker to SGML
                        o conversion from SGML to RTF
                

        

Description from Book Cover
---------------------------

The start-to-finish, real-world guide to implementing SGML. You
already know that SGML can supercharge your publishing processes,
helping you leverage information in powerful new ways. All that's left
is the hard part--implementation. One book will you through every
step: "SGML at Work", the most detailed guide to building real-world
SGML publishing systems.  Expert SGML and XML developer Dan Vint
presents a cradle-top-grave, soup-to-nuts methodology for deciding
what to do, when to do it, and how to do it right. He answers key
questions like:

        o Where do I start?
        o Should I implement my own DTDs or use DTDs that already exist?
        o How can I convert my legacy documents?
        o Which kinds of documents should I begin with?
        o How do I build an effective SGML-based document management system?
        o Which tools are available, and how do I make them work together?

"SGML at Work" covers the nitty-gritty of building an SGML publishing
system: developing DTDs as efficiently as possible; introducing a
quality control cycle that works; using and adapting conversion tools;
and more. You'll find extensive code and software configurations you
can use today. If you're implementing SGML, don't reinvent the
wheel--let "SGML at Work" help you get the job done right, the first
time.

The "SGML at Work" CD-ROM contains an extraordinary library of
commercial SGML trialware, and configurations to support the immediate
use of Corel Ventura Publisher 7 and WordPerfect 8; Grif; InContext
SGML editors; Arbortext ADEPT*Editor and Document*Architect; the
OmniMark programming language for document conversion and manipulation
the Texcel Information Manager; and all these deliver tools: INSO
DynaText and DynaWeb; and SoftQuad Panorama Pro. You'll also find a
complete working sample implementation that takes a FrameMaker
document through DTD development, SGML conversion, cleanup, editing,
presentation and document management. This sample is used to develop
programs and demonstrate the SGML industry's best commercial shareware
and freeware tools.

Dan Vint has been involved in documentation systems development and
support since the early days of the desktop publishing revolution in
the early 1980s, and has implemented SGML tools in defense, aerospace,
software development and legal publishing environments.