Re: PDF files (was Gnome user's guide line length?)

[John Fleck <jfleck inkstain net>]

Pat -

If this is not too much work for you, this sounds a reasonable solution.
Keep in mind, though, that we should have some reasonably automated
build system a la Jeff set up soon, and at that point we'll have to work
out the stylesheet/index/etc problems anyway. So it might be worth
waiting and not going to the extra trouble of this interim step.

How much work would this be?

Cheers,
John

On Thu, 2003-01-09 at 07:19, Pat Costello wrote:
> John, 
> 
> Here is my extended response to the question about PDF files. The Sun team can 
> provide community-specific PDF files to the same standard as the PDF files on 
> docs.sun.com, however there are several things that you need to be aware of 
> first. This is rather a long mail, but I want to make sure that all angles are 
> covered. 
> 
> Identity
> --------
> 
> We can create PDF files with the following characteristics: 
> 
> Each book: 
> 
> - Does not contain the Sun logo.
> - Does not have a Sun identity as such.
> - Uses Sun publishing conventions, see the System Admin Guide on gnome.org/learn 
> for an example.
> 
> Tools
> -----
> 
> We create the PDF files from modified sgml, using Sun publishing tools. 
> 
> Books
> -----
> 
> We can create PDF files for all of the books that we are creating originally in 
> sgml. At the moment these books are as follows: 
> 
> - User Guide.
> - System Administration Guide.
> - Accessibility Guide.
> 
> Varieties
> ---------
> 
> We can provide the following deliverables to cover all user requirements: 
> 
> - xml files with conditionalized-out illustrations for Yelp viewing.
> - html files with all illustrations for online viewing of the full books. 
> - PDF files for online viewing or printing out of full books. 
> 
> Tradeoffs
> ---------
> 
> Benefits of using the Sun route for creating community PDFs are as follows: 
> 
> Each book:  
> 
> - Includes properly-scaled screenshots.
> - Includes an index.
> - Contains correct section numbering, if required.
> - Includes revision history table as per GFDL requirements.
> 
> The process:
> 
> - Uses a tried and trusted template complying with all typographical standards.
> - Uses established page layout rules. 
> - Is repeatable for major updates.
> - Eliminates errors or glitches.
> 
> However on the other hand, the use of the Sun template for PDFs implies: 
> 
> Each book: 
> 
> - Does not include color illustrations, i.e black-and-while illos only.
> - Does not include a TOC in the side pane when viewed online. There is, of 
> course, a standard TOC generated in the book front matter.
> - Exhibits differences in rendering of some tags, specifically gui* tags.
> 
> The process: 
> 
> - Works only with books that are in sgml originals. 
> 
> Conclusion
> ----------
> 
> We can provide PDFs for the books mentioned above, within the parameters 
> discussed, until the PDF creation process being developed by Jeff Waugh comes 
> online. 
> 
> Pat
> 
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-- 
John Fleck
jfleck inkstain net (h) jfleck abqjournal com (w)
http://www.inkstain.net http://www.abqjournal.com

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