Re: CSS Flow Objects in XSL [WAS: RE: HTML Flow objects that span rules]

[Tony Graham <tgraham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 22 Apr 1998 15:08 -0400, Mark_Overton@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
 > I just think that print, on-line, etc are going to always have different
 > structures.  Trying to shoe-horn them all into one set of flow objects is
 > going to limit the functionality to the least common denominator.  As HTML
 > progresses are we going to try to implement every feature in print?  I
 > think it would be clearer to have seperate sets of flow objects for each
 > output medium.  If we try to create a master set of flow-objects and style
 > rules for all mediums I think we would end up with a giant, complex, set
 > which only confuses people.  I'd rather have small, targeted sets
 > applicable to only the format I'm trying to create.

Yes, but RTF is not the be-all-and-end-all of print formats.  Up until
now, you haven't been talking about print versus online, you've been
talking about focussing directly on RTF.  Despite its name, RTF is not
the most rewarding of formats, and is itself something of a lowest
common denominator for print.  Unfortunately, not all RTF files (or
RTF input filters) are created equal, and RTF that looks fine in Word
can be ghastly in WordPerfect or FrameMaker.  I suspect that the more
specialised RTF constructs you use, the less portable your RTF
becomes.

If you have a set of print-oriented flow objects, not just
RTF-oriented flow objects, then you can go from an XSL stylesheet to a
word processor or page-layout software's native form (or exchange
form, e.g. MIF), which will be more reliable than trusting how well
that software interprets RTF.

RTF itself is a moving target.  The RTF specification is in a
perpetual state of flux, and you can crash Word for Windows 95 by
opening some RTF meant for Word 97.  Why not use flow objects that
describe what you want, instead of flow objects that describe how you
can do it today but not necessarily how you will do it tomorrow?

Regards,


Tony Graham
=======================================================================
Tony Graham
Mulberry Technologies, Inc.                         Phone: 301-315-9632
17 West Jefferson Street, Suite 207                 Fax:   301-315-8285
Rockville, MD USA 20850                 email: tgraham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
=======================================================================


 XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list