 |
|
|
Diverse technologies and the varied requirements of different users require organizations to communicate in multiple formats: word processor files, Web pages, and PDF documents. In the past, maintaining the same information in multiple files was inefficient, expensive, and error-prone. The formatting embedded in each type of file to control the way information is displayed was complex and could not be easily repurposed. A different expert with specialized knowledge was often needed to prepare each variation.
Today, the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) has emerged as a universal language for specifying a standard syntax to describe a document's content. XML is a clearly defined way to structure, describe, and interchange data that separates the actual content from the way that content is presented electronically or on paper. XML technologies are ideally suited to solve content management and publication challenges because they are both platform and programming language neutral, inherently transformable into other formats, easily stored and searched, and easily transmitted via XML-based Web services. XML brings efficient single source publishing within reach.
XML single source publishing uses XML-based XSL technologies. The eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) includes eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) and eXtensible Stylesheet Language Formatting Objects (XSL:FO). These two stylesheet languages are used to apply styles to XML documents.
XML Documents with StyleXSL is the style component that corresponds to the XML content. Using XML with XSL allows you to change a document's style without affecting the content, for example to simultaneously publish a product catalog in HTML, Word, and PDF formats. Conversely, it allows you to change a document's content while preserving the style, which is necessary to accommodate updates or to publish the same product catalog in multiple languages for international distribution, for example.
XSLT extends XSL by adding the ability to transform XML documents to simple output forms such as text, HTML, or RTF (Rich Text Format), which is a common document format used by applications such as Microsoft® Word® versions 2003 and earlier. XSL:FO is a further variation for expressing advanced document layouts such as those used by PDF and PostScript formats.
Despite the countless advantages of the XML single source publishing model, challenges remain. Each output format (HTML, PDF, RTF, etc.) has its own associated XSL stylesheet. For example, an XML document that is to be rendered in HTML requires the application of one XSLT stylesheet, while a different XSLT stylesheet is necessary for RTF or Word 2007 output. Producing that same content in PDF requires an XSL:FO stylesheet. If additional output formats are desired, additional stylesheets must be developed.
Many designers have little if any experience in this process. A designer might be skilled at developing XSLT stylesheets for HTML output, for instance, but may still not know the intricacies of working with XSL:FO or the many other stylesheet variations in use today.
Adding to the pressure, the XSLT language is a programming language of its own. A single stylesheet error can prevent the generation of any useful output. Writing XSL stylesheets by hand to support HTML formatting of complex tables or dynamic forms that change based on user input can take a considerable amount of time and is an error-prone process.
Making It Quick and EasyAltova StyleVision® 2010 provides a solution to simplify the creation of effective multi-purpose stylesheets and database reports. StyleVision was created to allow designers, developers, or database engineers to design stylesheets graphically and to transform XML or database data into attractive HTML, RTF, PDF, Word 2007 (OOXML) documents and database reports in one step.
The StyleVision visual interface allows you to map the tags in an XML document to formatted output without extensive knowledge or experience with XSLT elements, XPath, or other related technologies.
The StyleVision helper windows display the hierarchy of the XML schema and text styles and formatting for each element. As you work, you can toggle the main design view window to views of the output as HTML, RTF text, PDF, or Word 2007 (OOXML). If you wish, you can even view the associated XSL stylesheet that is automatically generated for transformation to each format.
StyleVision supports advanced layout and stylesheet functions for presentation of complex information in tables. Tables, dynamic layouts, conditional templates, and other advanced features are all easily created or modified by selecting options in dialog boxes and menus. The new design elements are immediately displayed in the preview windows and unlimited undo/redo encourages experimentation with multiple options Coding such complex items is cumbersome and time-consuming if it must be done by hand, but StyleVision® 2010 lets you easily accomplish the task visually.
Additionally, as you design your stylesheets and transformations, StyleVision automatically creates an electronic form to use with Altova Authentic® 2010 and provides a preview called Authentic view. Authentic is a free application for business users that allows them to create and edit content that is compliant with an existing schema via a word processor style interface without exposing them to the underlying XML and XSL technologies. Authentic also allows users to edit database data in accordance with the associated database schema.
If you’re new to XML and XSLT, the StyleVision Help menu includes Getting Started and Tutorial sections as well as a full online user manual.
Find out how designers and developers leverage StyleVision to rapidly implement their single source / multi-channel publishing projects. To learn more about XML publishing and StyleVision, click below to check out these resources:
|
|
|
|
