Subject: Re: ANN: TeXML enables transform for typesetting without fo's.
From: Sebastian Rahtz <s.rahtz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 16:30:57 +0000 (GMT)
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dcl@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
> TeX is a typesetting language widely used in academic publishing,
> especially in mathematics. A TeX processor will output PostScript, PCL,
> and other printer formats.
>
> TeXML is an XML vocabulary for describing TeX syntax. You write an XSL
> style sheet to translate your XML into TeXML. A small, simple program may
> readily translate TeXML to TeX.
>
I find TeXML a very interesting project, but I do worry about the
implication that it makes TeX accessible to the average XML
user. Using an XSL to TeXML conversion has the advantage that:
- you dont have to worry about escaping \ and such like trash
- you see familiar < > syntax
- you can validate the result against a DTD (of marginal utility, perhaps)
BUT it does not absolve you from learning TeX, LaTeX or whatever, and
implementing the TeX commands. that is to say, the output
<cmd name="signature">thanks for the all fish</cmd>
still means that someone must define \signature for you.
I think TeXML should be used, in preference to literals, but it isnt a
silver bullet....
Sebastian
XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
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