Docbook versus Home-Grown

[Mike Feimster]

Hi Joe,

I had to make a similar decision a couple years ago. I went with the
home-grown approach. I already knew how to create a DTD and EDD, as well
as XSLT, etc. I figured by the time I learned DocBook, cut it down to a
manageable level, added any other customizations, I could have created
my own EDD/DTD.

Also, by creating my own schema, I could take advantage of the inherent
style in my unstructured documents.

Once in XML, it is easy to get to HTML using XSLT. You can also create
HTML Help without spending any money on tools. (If you're attending the
FrameMaker Chautauqua in Austin next month, I'm presenting a session on
this.)

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From:
framers-bounces+mike.feimster=acstechnologies.com at lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces+mike.feimster=acstechnologies.com at lists.frameuse
rs.com] On Behalf Of Joe Malin
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 2:22 PM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Docbook versus Home-Grown

Hi!

 

Well, I *finally* finished the new book for our next software release,
so I can justifiably turn my attention to getting myself into structured
docs.

 

I am not going to go with DITA just yet. My plan is to convert my
existing unstructured docs to structure first, and then start the next
round of docs in DITA. So, my first decision is what EDD to use. Should
I develop an EDD myself from scratch, or start with the DocBook EDD? My
only hesitation in using the DocBook EDD is that it will have a lot of
elements that I don't want to use.

 

Any advice, particularly from those who have gone the same route, would
be much appreciated.

 

As you probably know, I have many years experience in software
development, so developing my own EDD is not an issue.

 

Joe

 


TuVox, Inc.


19050 Pruneridge Avenue Suite 150, Cupertino, CA 95014-0715

Joe Malin

Technical Writer

(408)625.1623

jmalin at tuvox.com

www.tuvox.com

The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not
necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc.

 

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