Re: [xsl] Converting XML into ODT document to print as paper

["Peter Flynn peter@xxxxxxxxxxx" <xsl-list-service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 30/09/2020 10:20, Michael Kay mike@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> On 30/09/2020 09:57, Peter Flynn peter@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > BUTb&all these solutions depend on the Word file using Names Styles
> > consistently, and that's a human (editorial) requirement too.
>
> The first two editions of my book [...] totally relied on authors 
> using a closed/locked/shared template with fixed styles and macros.
> [...] as the author you were completely constrained to use the fixed
> styles.

This can be deeply frustrating for the author, but the publisher 
desperately (and I mean "in desperation") wants to stop the author doing 
a solo run on appearances which will all have to be re-done.

I used to explain to my academics what happened at the publishers, once 
the final copy of their book/article had been approved and sent in. In 
most cases, all the markup, in whatever language, so carefully and 
painstakingly added by the author (and in some cases by the editor too) 
would be ripped out right down to the bare metal, and the text sent to 
be put into a form their pipeline can accept. In some places this still 
happens, because it's cheaper than trying to fix problems in a system 
they don't have the relevant skills in.

> You could negotiate changes with the editor (the templates could be
> fine-tuned for each book if there were special requirements e.g. for
> running heads) but you couldn't make them unilaterally.
You were very fortunate that Wrox understood the problem so well, and 
had the time and skills to make the changes.

> [...] the Wiley process where the [...] final production work,
> including indexing, was lost when you started work on the next
> edition.

Some publishers understand Content, some don't.

> It's amazing what you can do in Word with the right skill set and
> with good processes.

You can definitely publish the entire document using Word and Save 
Asb&PDF but the battle against the software makes it a viable process 
only for those with the right skill set, and it may need a significant 
amount of reinventing of wheels compared with other routes b each of 
which has its own pros and cons.

Peter