Re: dsssl functions

[Daniel Speck <dspeck@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Boris Goldowsky wrote:

> A couple of questions.  I know scheme and SGML pretty well, but am new
> to DSSSL.
>
> 1. Does someone have a quick-reference list of functions legal in
>    DSSSL, or just the DSSSL stylesheet language, or Jade?
>    I'm looking for a reference source shorter than the text of the standard.
>

See Henry Thompson's digest of DSSSL procedures which lists each of the
procedures in the DSSSL standard and references the section that defines it:
ftp://ftp.ornl.gov/pub/sgml/WG8/DSSSL/digest.htm

> 2. Many DSSSL functions accept arguments in keyword/value pairs --
>    as in (make element GI: "P" attributes '(...)).
>    I'm familiar with defining functions in scheme, but how do you
>    define a function with keyword arguments like that?
>

The DSSSL expression language was _inspired by_ Scheme but is not a subset of
it. Keyword arguments may be defined using the following syntax:

(define (foo #!key (param1 val1) (param2 val2))
  body
)

and used as: (foo param: expr1 param2: expr2)

See section 8.3.1.4 "Lambda Expression" of the standard.

> 3. Are there resources somewhere which give some comparisons of the
>    various DSSSL engines that are available?  What do you get for your
>    money if you buy one of the commercial ones?
>

Not to my knowledge. There aren't too many commercial DSSSL engines available
yet. The only one I know if is from Copernican Solutions http://www.copsol.com
and it is still alpha. Hopefully there will be more to choose from soon.

-dan

--
Daniel Speck                              e-mail: dspeck@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Research Engineer                          voice:     +1 301.548.7818
Thomson Technology Services Group            fax:     +1 301.527.4094
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