[drupal-docs] Docbook ++ question

[Anisa]

I really am going down hill.

The big reason was versioning.  Other pluses were easy conversion to 
other formats.  NOT to Latex, but to html, pdf, etc.  People liked the 
*automatic* nature of it, easy application of style sheets and 
indexing.  The technical advantages.

However, it is also fairly complicated, so there were definite 
disadvantages on the authoring side...  authors have to learn a new type 
of markup to use it, which is a pretty major barrier.

I do not believe you would be wasting your time on working such an addon 
to the book module even if it is not used for the handbook, nor do I 
think anyone else believes that.  I don't know about assigning yourself 
such a 'tall order', though.  :)  Here you are asking everyone else to 
rely on you.

Improvements to the neglected book.module are sure to be welcomed.  
Getting it to export into anything other than that printer friendly 
format will be helpful for all Drupal users, most of whom use the book 
in some way or the other.

Anisa.
grumpy in the morning. :)

Anisa wrote:

> *shrug*
>
> Because some people think it's cool.
>
> You can read more in the Drupal Docs archives.
>
> Anisa.
>
> vlado wrote:
>
>> What is the aim of having the Drupal docs in Docbook?
>> or
>> What are the targets?
>>
>> 1. Is it to provide easy to print PDFs?
>> 2. Is it to provide easy conversion to HTML, PS, LaTeX, many others?
>> 3. Is it to help authoring?
>> 4. Is it required to provide documentation in a bundle for offline
>>   reading?
>> 5. Have I missed some answers? possibly, yes
>>
>> There are a few related questions?
>>
>> How do the users prefer to have the documentation? What are their
>> preferred ways of using the docs, or consulting them?
>>
>> I think starting from these questions will lead towards the format mix
>> for the documentation.
>>
>> I have a feeling that using the book module on drupal is a good
>> solution, but it lacks features. The tools for maintaining the book 
>> hierarchy and TOCs are there. There is revision control present. There
>> is a shortage of output formats though.
>>
>> Is the current drupal book module good and comfortable to use to write
>> and publish drupal docs?
>> please answer this
>>
>> Why am I asking all of these questions. Well, if the answer to the last
>> question is yes. I will volunteer to spend some time on
>> producing an add-on to the book module, which will output proper
>> docbook xml. Coming from me it is probably a tall promise, but I'll try
>> to keep it. From there on, it will be a design matter. I'm not good at
>> that unfortunately. At least not feeling comfortable with it.
>>
>> I'll try and produce template scripts for generating pdf, ps, standalone
>> html from the docbook sources. Thsi will probably cover the cases for
>> offline documentation. To even go that way, I need to be
>> conviced that it will fit the requirements and the working habits of the
>> documentation team. Otherwise I will be wasting my efforts and time.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Vlado
>>
>>  
>>