Re: Back to SGML (ugh) after yrs of XML - AF TOs - State of the > Zoo Qs (Robert Williams)

[Liz Fraley <liz -at- caltonia -dot- com>]

I got this in the digest, and saw the cross-post on adepters. I
thought I'd post my response here as well, so anyone searching the
archives will come across the answer.

Cheers,
Liz


---------My answer:

We've had many, many inquiries just like this. I got a look at the
print FOSI and, IIRC, it showed intensive use of Datalogics extensions
which means Print Composer won't give you the PDF you want without a
whole lot of work.  The Authoring/Editing in Arbortext works fine (and
yes, there's no screen fosi, but, unlike the print fosi, this is
pretty simple to fix - PTC, us, or, really, any of the Arbortext
partners can do that for you, or you can do it yourself in a couple of
hours with Styler + eLearning).

Cheers,
Liz

>    2. Back to SGML (ugh) after yrs of XML - AF TOs - State of the
>       Zoo Qs (Robert Williams)

> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:16:32 -0400
> From: "Robert Williams" <robert -dot- williams -at- techresearchgroup -dot- com>
> To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Subject: Back to SGML (ugh) after yrs of XML - AF TOs - State of the
>         Zoo Qs
> Message-ID: <000b01ce6dd9$e936da20$bba48e60$ -at- techresearchgroup -dot- com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi all, long time lurker, long time tech writer. mostly military TMs (SGML &
> XML - Arbortext and some structured Frame).
>
>
>
> I know that there are some real experts out there that read this list that
> are SGML & XML and Arbortext gurus. with this I beseech you. (burning
> chicken bones over a bat wing fire here)
>
>
>
> After several yrs of 40051 Army XML TMs (LOGSA - Arbortext - PrintComposer -
> PDF Output). I'm being dragged back into SGML, for some USAF TOs.
>
>
>
> Questions are:
>
>
>
> 1. New TMs for new USAF equipment calling for SGML vice XML..  what's up
> with that? (i.e. where are they going with this, big USAF I mean?) Too much
> $$$  in SGML infrastructure? Thought they'd be moving forward to XML on all
> fronts, no? The end product appears to be 'indexed' PDFs with SGML file
> deliverables.
>
>
>
> 2. I've always used GFE/GFI provided DTDs for both SGML and XML, and while
> this appears to be the case here, there are a couple of 'peculiarities'
> lurking.
>
>
>
>   a.  Deliveries are both SGML and 'indexed' PDFs (meaning 'linked'? More on
> this below)
>
>  b.  SOW says we can use any SGML editor with their DTD (true), but they
> also state their FOSIs were built for Datalogic only (which I've never
> used.)
>
>   c.  Now I need to buy freakin' 'Datalogics'? -at- !?  I know nothing of
> 'Datalogics.' (and I'm already old enough to remember using Interleaf)
>
>
>
> 3.  Using Arbortext for SGML  - will it play nice in the sandbox with this
> stuff? (Specifically:)
>
>
>
>    a. No screen FOSI (have worked without one a lot - so not too concerned -
> mebbe pay Jerry Tippee to dummy us up a basic screen FOSI for the DTD)
>
>    b. What is the likelihood that I can get a decent PDF out of this without
> too much wailing and gnashing of teeth? (Arbortext's PrintComposer?)
>
>    c. What is the likelihood that the PDF will come out with the links
> working properly? (not holding my breath on this one)
>
>    d. Or will I need to buy some Datalogics product to process my Arbortext
> edited SGML into a decent (delivery quality) PDF?
>
>
>
> All thoughts and insights welcome. Let me know what y'all think.
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for all reads and replies.
>
>
>
> Bob W.
>
> Bristol RI, US
>
> Tech Research Group Inc.
>
> 2377 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence RI 02914
>
> TEL 401.434.4680 (Office)
>
> TEL 401.500.2286 (Mobile)
>
> EMAIL  <mailto:Robert -dot- Williams -at- TechResearchGroup -dot- Com>
> Robert -dot- Williams -at- TechResearchGroup -dot- Com
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> You are currently subscribed to
> TECHWR-L.
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 
>
> Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/ for more resources and info.
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>
> End of TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 92, Issue 20
> ****************************************
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
New! Doc-to-Help 2013 features the industry's first HTML5 editor for authoring.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/ZeOZeQ

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives