Re: ANN: TeXML enables transform for typesetting without fo's.

[Sebastian Rahtz <s.rahtz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

dcl@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
 > TeX is a typesetting language widely used in academic publishing,
 > especially in mathematics.  A TeX processor will output PostScript, PCL,
 > and other printer formats.
 > 
 > TeXML is an XML vocabulary for describing TeX syntax. You write an XSL
 > style sheet to translate your XML into TeXML.  A small, simple program may
 > readily translate TeXML to TeX.
 > 

I find TeXML a very interesting project, but I do worry about the
implication that it makes TeX accessible to the average XML
user. Using an XSL to TeXML conversion has the advantage that:

 - you dont have to worry about escaping \ and such like trash
 - you see familiar < > syntax
 - you can validate the result against a DTD (of marginal utility, perhaps)

BUT it does not absolve you from learning TeX, LaTeX or whatever, and
implementing the TeX commands. that is to say, the output

 <cmd name="signature">thanks for the all fish</cmd>

still means that someone must define \signature for you.

I think TeXML should be used, in preference to literals, but it isnt a
silver bullet....

Sebastian


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