Re: Rant: Giving up on XML

[Siliconwriter <siliconwriter -at- comcast -dot- net>]

On Mar 13, 2007, at 8:11 AM, elizabeth j allen wrote:

> You checked XML out and discovered some flaws, flaws that made it  
> unusable
> for you. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, there's a lot right with  
> it.
> Being aware of new technology and its limitations is a good thing. If
> anything, I hope this experience doesn't completely dampen your
> investigative spirit.

The thing is, our documentation absolutely cries out for XML. Doxygen  
generates hundreds of XML files, nicely formed, with no trouble at  
all. Our documents are going to be localizedin several languages. I  
have multiple delivery formats: HTML, PDF and eventually chm. Much of  
the information is redundant; having one file on, say, the power  
supply, which could be used for several similar documents, would be  
ideal. But again, I just do not have the time to re-invent the wheel.  
I have still not even figured out HOW one turns an XML file into a  
DocBook. Maybe I'm stupid, but I'm Just. Not. Getting. It and I  
really do not have any more time to spend on it. I'm the only tech  
writer for an organization growing at breakneck speed, with all the  
usual time crunches of a startup that is underfunded, understaffed  
and over-committed.

My investigative spirit is fine; the rest of me needs a nap. :)  
Thanks for the comments, though. I'll save them and maybe in a more  
leisured hour will peruse them again.

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