XSLT allows you to transform the structure of XML files into anything you need. As structured FrameMaker is not exactly XML but follows the same structured design, the capabilities of XSLT within the FrameMaker environment can be very useful. The FrameSLT plug-in produced by West Street Consulting offers this functionality at a very low price. This presentation gives an introduction to what the tool can do, and what it means to do transformations of structure in technical documents.

1. it’s a kind of magic...
XPath-based transformations in Structured FrameMaker
Jang F.M. Graat

2. who’s talking ?
• Jang F.M. Graat
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• physics, psychology, philosophy
• 25+ yrs in tech comms
• self-educated professional
• Automating FrameMaker

3. what is this about ?
• XML & DOM
• XPath & XSLT
• FrameSLT
• Node Wizard Scripts
• ExtendScript

4. XML & DOM
a very quick explanation

5. XML : organized storage

6. DOM : abstract roadmap

7. XPath & XSLT
the basic concept

8. XPath : navigation device

9. XSLT : makeover

10. FrameSLT
transforming FrameMaker documents

11. structured FM ≠ XML

12. FrameSLT ≠ XSLT

13. the true magician
• Russ Ward
• West Street Consulting
• FM plug-ins
• Usability main drive
• FrameSLT : $100
• Real value : priceless

14. the magician’s hat

15. finding your targets
Title
/Chapter/Title
//Section/Title
//Title[contains(.,”Intro”)]
//Section[contains(Title,"tion")]/*/Para[1]
//Section[descendant::BulletList]
//*/@conref
//Title/@id[.!=””]
following-sibling::Note[@Type,”Warning”]

16. element actions

17. attribute actions

18. transformation engine

19. Node Wizard Scripts
programming for non-programmers

20. structured FM file

21. event definitions

22. subevents

23. FM-specific actions

24. user-friendly dialog

25. ExtendScript
bringing it all together

26. CallClient method

27. running the node wizard

28. running NW scripts

29. magic is in the air

30. Questions ?
jang@jang.nl