SDPL 2004Notes 6: XSL Formatting1 6 XSL: Extensible Stylesheet Language n An advanced style language for XML documents: 1. Language for transforming XML

SDPL 2004 Notes 6: XSL Formatting 1

66 XSL: Extensible Stylesheet Language XSL: Extensible Stylesheet Language

An advanced style language for XML An advanced style language for XML documents:documents:1.1. Language for transforming XML documents: XSLT Language for transforming XML documents: XSLT

2.2. XML vocabulary ( XML vocabulary (≈ markup language≈ markup language) for specifying ) for specifying formatting: formatting: XSL version 1.0, W3C Rec. (15 October, 2001)XSL version 1.0, W3C Rec. (15 October, 2001)

» written for written for implementersimplementers of XSL processors of XSL processors

6.1 Introduction and Overview6.1 Introduction and Overview 6.2 XSL Formatting by Example6.2 XSL Formatting by Example


What is it?What is it?

An XSL style sheet specifies the presentation of a An XSL style sheet specifies the presentation of a class of XML documentsclass of XML documents– by describing an XSLT transformation of the XML by describing an XSLT transformation of the XML

document into an XML document that uses the document into an XML document that uses the formatting vocabulary formatting vocabulary

» XSL FO: a markup language to describe formatting XSL FO: a markup language to describe formatting

XSL builds on CSS2 and DSSSLXSL builds on CSS2 and DSSSL

– DSSSL an ISO-standardised, but mainly DSSSL an ISO-standardised, but mainly unimplemented SGML style languageunimplemented SGML style language


Example of XSL syntaxExample of XSL syntax

Formatting paragraph elements (Formatting paragraph elements (pp):):– NB:NB: An incomplete style sheet! An incomplete style sheet!

<xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' <xsl:stylesheet version='1.0' xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"

xmlns:xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format"fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format" > > <xsl:template match="p"><xsl:template match="p"> <fo:block> <fo:block>

 <fo:initial-property-set <fo:initial-property-set

font-variant="small-caps"/>font-variant="small-caps"/> <xsl:apply-templates/><xsl:apply-templates/> </fo:block></fo:block> </xsl:template></xsl:template></xsl:stylesheet></xsl:stylesheet>


6.1 Overview of XSL Formatting6.1 Overview of XSL Formatting

A A style sheet processorstyle sheet processor accepts an XML accepts an XML document and an XSL style sheet, and produces document and an XSL style sheet, and produces a formatted presentationa formatted presentation

Two steps:Two steps:1. 1. (XSLT) (XSLT) transformation: transformation:

XML XML source treesource tree result treeresult tree2. 2. (XSL FO)(XSL FO) formatting formatting

» interpreting the result tree to produce formatted interpreting the result tree to produce formatted presentationpresentation


Transformation & FormattingTransformation & Formatting

XSLT scriptXSLT script


Basis of formattingBasis of formatting

Tree transformation adds information needed to Tree transformation adds information needed to format the result treeformat the result tree

Formatting semantics expressed using a Formatting semantics expressed using a formatting vocabularyformatting vocabulary, of, of– formatting objects formatting objects ((FOFOs)s),, nodes of the result tree nodes of the result tree

» for typographic abstractions like page-sequence, block, for typographic abstractions like page-sequence, block, in-line text, page reference, …in-line text, page reference, …

» XSL 1.0 defines 56 formatting object classesXSL 1.0 defines 56 formatting object classes– formatting propertiesformatting properties control the presentation of control the presentation of

formatting objects (indents, spacing, fonts, …)formatting objects (indents, spacing, fonts, …)» XSL 1.0 defines 248 formatting properties; XSL 1.0 defines 248 formatting properties;

many common with CSS2many common with CSS2


FormattingFormatting

Formatting-object tree interpreted to produce the Formatting-object tree interpreted to produce the representationrepresentation

Each FO specifies a part of pagination, layout and Each FO specifies a part of pagination, layout and styling applied to its contentstyling applied to its content

Properties control the formatting of a FOProperties control the formatting of a FO– some directly, e.g.,some directly, e.g., colorcolor– some through constraints, e.g.,some through constraints, e.g., space-space-before.minimumbefore.minimum the final rendering is not uniquely defined by XSLthe final rendering is not uniquely defined by XSL


Areas and Area TreeAreas and Area Tree

Formatting generates an Formatting generates an area treearea tree consisting of consisting of nested rectangular areasnested rectangular areas– inline areasinline areas (e.g. glyph areas) within (e.g. glyph areas) within line areasline areas– lines within lines within block areasblock areas– blocks within blocks within regionsregions of a page of a page

RenderingRendering causes the area tree to appear on a causes the area tree to appear on a mediummedium– areas printed on a sequence of sheets areas printed on a sequence of sheets

(or displayed as a single scroll in a browser)(or displayed as a single scroll in a browser)


Generating the Area Tree (1/3)Generating the Area Tree (1/3)

Formatting a gradual and complex processFormatting a gradual and complex process Conceptual process of XSL formatting:Conceptual process of XSL formatting: (XSL FO)(XSL FO) Element and attribute tree Element and attribute tree

– target of transformation, source of formattingtarget of transformation, source of formatting– consists of consists of element, attribute,element, attribute, and and text nodestext nodes– transformed into a … transformed into a …

Formatting object tree Formatting object tree ((XSL FO Elem&attr tree)XSL FO Elem&attr tree)– consists of formatting consists of formatting objectsobjects with with propertiesproperties– more detailed: each character its own objectmore detailed: each character its own object





Properties of the formatting object tree refined into Properties of the formatting object tree refined into traits traits ((muotoilupiirre, piirremuotoilupiirre, piirre))– e.g., by propagating inherited properties, and computing e.g., by propagating inherited properties, and computing

absolute values for relative propertiesabsolute values for relative properties» e.g., properties e.g., properties font-size="12pt"font-size="12pt", , start-indent="2em"start-indent="2em" become traits become traits font-size="12pt"font-size="12pt", , start-indent="24pt"start-indent="24pt"

– traits control generation of areas out of formatting objectstraits control generation of areas out of formatting objects– some traits only available as a result of formatting, e.g., page some traits only available as a result of formatting, e.g., page

numbers numbers


Benefits of XSLBenefits of XSL

Rich model and vocabulary for XML stylesheetsRich model and vocabulary for XML stylesheets Powerful selection and manipulation (Powerful selection and manipulation (← ← XSLT)XSLT) Pagination and layout extend existing ones Pagination and layout extend existing ones

– area model a superset of the CSS2 box modelarea model a superset of the CSS2 box model» e.g., different writing directions; footnotes, page number refs.e.g., different writing directions; footnotes, page number refs.

Support of non-western writing directionsSupport of non-western writing directions– > distances expressed in terms of > distances expressed in terms of

beforebefore//after after (for (for block-progression-directionblock-progression-direction)), , and and startstart//end end (for (for inline-progression-directioninline-progression-direction))


XSL Area ModelXSL Area Model

Formatting objects generate Formatting objects generate areasareas– each 0 or moreeach 0 or more

» page breakspage breaks additional block areas additional block areas

» line breaks line breaks additional line areas additional line areas

Each area tree node (except root) associated to a Each area tree node (except root) associated to a rectangular portion of the output mediumrectangular portion of the output medium

An area has a An area has a content-rectanglecontent-rectangle– portion for child areasportion for child areas– optionally surrounded by a optionally surrounded by a borderborder and and paddingpadding


Content, Padding and BorderContent, Padding and Border

For compatibility For compatibility also CSS-like also CSS-like margins margins margin-top, margin-top, -right, -right, -bottom -bottom andand -left -left

space-beforespace-before

space-afterspace-after

start-start-indentindent

end-indentend-indent

space-startspace-start space-endspace-end


Two area typesTwo area types

block-areasblock-areas– generated in generated in block-progression-directionblock-progression-direction

(normally top-to-bottom)(normally top-to-bottom)– paragraphs and titles normally rendered using paragraphs and titles normally rendered using fo:blockfo:block, which creates block areas, which creates block areas

– line-arealine-area a special case: no borders or padding a special case: no borders or padding inline-areasinline-areas

– generated in generated in inline-progression-directioninline-progression-direction (normally (normally left-to-right)left-to-right)

– characters rendered using characters rendered using fo:characterfo:character, which , which generatesgenerates glyph-area glyph-area inline-areasinline-areas» no child areas, a single glyph image as contentno child areas, a single glyph image as content


Formatting objects and propertiesFormatting objects and properties

XSL 1.0 defines 56 formatting objects XSL 1.0 defines 56 formatting objects … … page-sequence, simple-page-master, block, inline, page-sequence, simple-page-master, block, inline, list-block, list-item, list-item-label, list-list-block, list-item, list-item-label, list-item-body, external-graphic, basic-link, float, item-body, external-graphic, basic-link, float, footnote, table, table-row, table-column, ...footnote, table, table-row, table-column, ...

and 248 propertiesand 248 properties master-referencemaster-reference, , background-color, font-family, background-color, font-family, font-size, space-before, start-indent, end-font-size, space-before, start-indent, end-indent, text-align, text-indent, indent, text-align, text-indent, … …

– many common with CSS2many common with CSS2


Some central formatting objects 1/3Some central formatting objects 1/3

fo:rootfo:root– top node of the formatting object treetop node of the formatting object tree– a wrapper for all the rest a wrapper for all the rest

fo:simple-page-masterfo:simple-page-master– model of the geometry of pagesmodel of the geometry of pages

» region-bodyregion-body (for page content) (for page content)» region-before region-before (for header)(for header), , region-after region-after (for footer)(for footer), , region-startregion-start and and region-endregion-end (for left and right sidebar)(for left and right sidebar)


Page regionsPage regions

A simple page can contain 1-5 regions, specified by child A simple page can contain 1-5 regions, specified by child elements of the elements of the simple-page-mastersimple-page-master


Top-level formatting objectsTop-level formatting objects

Slightly simplified:Slightly simplified: fo:rootfo:root

fo:layout-master-setfo:layout-master-set

(fo:simple-page-master | fo:page-sequence-master)+(fo:simple-page-master | fo:page-sequence-master)+

fo:page-sequencefo:page-sequence++

fo:region-fo:region-bodybody

fo:region-fo:region-before?before? fo:region-fo:region-

end?end?

fo:region-fo:region-start?start?

fo:region-fo:region-after?after? specify masters specify masters

for page sequences for page sequences by referring to by referring to simple-page-masterssimple-page-masters

contents of pagescontents of pages

fo:flowfo:flow


Some central formatting objects 2/3Some central formatting objects 2/3

fo:page-sequencefo:page-sequence– specifies the creation of page sequencesspecifies the creation of page sequences– possibly different possibly different page-sequencepage-sequence (and page- (and page-

sequence-master) for, say, each chaptersequence-master) for, say, each chapter fo:flowfo:flow

– child of a child of a page-sequencepage-sequence– Attribute Attribute flow-nameflow-name connects to a region with a connects to a region with a

matching matching region-nameregion-name – > the contents is distributed to that region of pages> the contents is distributed to that region of pages

NBNB: There are no ‘page’-formatting objects: There are no ‘page’-formatting objects– pages created by the formatterpages created by the formatter


Content objects for pagesContent objects for pages

Slightly simplified:Slightly simplified:

fo:static-content*fo:static-content*

Block-level object+Block-level object+

fo:page-sequencefo:page-sequence++

fo:flowfo:flow

Block-level object+Block-level object+

(repeated on (repeated on every page)every page)

(distributed (distributed to pages)to pages)


Some block-level objectsSome block-level objects

fo:blockfo:block– commonly used for paragraphs, titles, …commonly used for paragraphs, titles, …– may contain text, other may contain text, other blockblocks, ors, or

» fo:inlinefo:inline (to change properties, e.g., (to change properties, e.g., font-stylefont-style of inline text) of inline text)

fo:tablefo:table for formatting tabular materialfor formatting tabular material fo:list-blockfo:list-block to format lists of to format lists of

– fo:list-itemfo:list-items ofs of» fo:list-item-labelfo:list-item-label and and » fo:list-item-bodyfo:list-item-body


““Hello world” result tree as an XSL documentHello world” result tree as an XSL document

<fo:root xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format"><fo:root xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format"> <fo:layout-master-set><fo:layout-master-set> <fo:simple-page-master master-name="<fo:simple-page-master master-name="pagepage">"> <fo:region-body/><fo:region-body/> </fo:simple-page-master></fo:simple-page-master> </fo:layout-master-set></fo:layout-master-set> <fo:page-sequence <fo:page-sequence

master-reference="master-reference="pagepage"> ">  <fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"><fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"> <fo:block>Hello World</fo:block><fo:block>Hello World</fo:block> </fo:flow></fo:flow> </fo:page-sequence></fo:page-sequence></fo:root></fo:root>


Implementations?Implementations?

W3C XSL Rec rather recent (10/2001)W3C XSL Rec rather recent (10/2001) What is the state of implementations?What is the state of implementations? Some promising/interesting ones (2004):Some promising/interesting ones (2004):

– XEP by RenderX (XSL-FO to PS/PDF XEP by RenderX (XSL-FO to PS/PDF formatter),formatter),XSL Formatter by Antenna HouseXSL Formatter by Antenna House

» $0 … $5000 (evaluation … server versions; April 2004)$0 … $5000 (evaluation … server versions; April 2004)

– Adobe Document ServerAdobe Document Server– Passive TeXPassive TeX

» set of TeX macros to process XSL-FO by Sebastian Rahtzset of TeX macros to process XSL-FO by Sebastian Rahtz

– Apache FOPApache FOP


Apache FOPApache FOP

FOP (Formatting Objects Processor) by J. TauberFOP (Formatting Objects Processor) by J. Tauber» ““fop: a man who pays too much attention to his appearance”fop: a man who pays too much attention to his appearance”

– donated to XML Apache project donated to XML Apache project ((http://xml.apache.org/fop/http://xml.apache.org/fop/))

– open-source freewareopen-source freeware– Java-based XML/XSL-FO to PDF (or MIF/PCL/TXT/...) Java-based XML/XSL-FO to PDF (or MIF/PCL/TXT/...)

processorprocessor– Not complete, but implements a useful subset of XSL 1.0Not complete, but implements a useful subset of XSL 1.0


FOP 0.20.5 XSL-FO-ComplianceFOP 0.20.5 XSL-FO-Compliance

http://xml.apache.org/fop/compliance.htmlhttp://xml.apache.org/fop/compliance.html

ImplementeImplementedd

fullyfully partiallpartiallyy

nono totaltotal

formatting formatting

objectsobjects 3636(64%)(64%)

1717 (30%)(30%)

33 (5%)(5%)

5656

formattingformatting

propertiesproperties 9595(38%)(38%)

110110 (44%)(44%)

4343 (17%)(17%)

248248

non-aural non-aural propertiesproperties

9595(41%)(41%)

110110 (48%)(48%)

2525 (11%)(11%)

230230


6.2 XSL-FO by Example6.2 XSL-FO by Example

From From J. David Eisenberg: Using XSL Formatting Objects. J. David Eisenberg: Using XSL Formatting Objects. XML.com, January 17, 2001, XML.com, January 17, 2001, (acknowledging the loan of (acknowledging the loan of some graphics)some graphics)

XSL FO instance for a handbook of SpanishXSL FO instance for a handbook of Spanish– NBNB: XSL FO is not designed to be hand-authored: XSL FO is not designed to be hand-authored– Consider this as a machine-generated result Consider this as a machine-generated result

(of an XSLT transformation)(of an XSLT transformation) Overall structure ofOverall structure of fo:root fo:root: specification of: specification of

– page masters, followed bypage masters, followed by– the content of the pagesthe content of the pages


Example: Page dimensions and marginsExample: Page dimensions and margins

<fo:layout-master-set><fo:layout-master-set> <fo:<fo:simple-page-mastersimple-page-master master-name="cover" master-name="cover" page-height="12cm"page-height="12cm" page-width="12cm"page-width="12cm" margin-top="0.5cm"margin-top="0.5cm" margin-bottom="0.5cm"margin-bottom="0.5cm" margin-left="1cm"margin-left="1cm" margin-right="0.5cm" >margin-right="0.5cm" > </fo:</fo:simple-page-mastersimple-page-master>> … … </fo:layout-master-set></fo:layout-master-set> plus similarplus similar simple-page-master simple-page-masterss with with

– master-name="rightPage" master-name="rightPage" (identical)(identical)– master-name="leftPage" master-name="leftPage" (left and right margins switched)(left and right margins switched)


Intended layout of pagesIntended layout of pages


Page regionsPage regions

A simple page can contain 1-5 regions, specified by child A simple page can contain 1-5 regions, specified by child elements of the elements of the simple-page-mastersimple-page-master

Let´s refine the page masters with regionsLet´s refine the page masters with regions


Example: Region dimensionsExample: Region dimensions

<fo:simple-page-master master-name="cover"<fo:simple-page-master master-name="cover" … … dimensions and margins as above …dimensions and margins as above … > >

<fo:region-body margin-top="3cm" /><fo:region-body margin-top="3cm" /> </fo:simple-page-master> </fo:simple-page-master>

<fo:simple-page-master master-name="leftPage" <fo:simple-page-master master-name="leftPage" …… > ><fo:region-before extent="1cm"/> <fo:region-before extent="1cm"/> <fo:region-after extent="1cm"/> <fo:region-after extent="1cm"/> <fo:region-body <fo:region-body margin-top="1.1cm" margin-bottom="1.1cm" /> margin-top="1.1cm" margin-bottom="1.1cm" />

</fo:simple-page-master></fo:simple-page-master>

similarly … --> NBNB:: body body uses all space inside page marginsuses all space inside page margins

margins of margins of region-body region-body have to accommodate other regions!have to accommodate other regions!


Layout of Page RegionsLayout of Page Regions


Example: Page SequencesExample: Page Sequences

Next: masters for Next: masters for sequencessequences of content pages, using the of content pages, using the defined defined simple-page-mastersimple-page-masterss– repeatedly alternate masters for left and right pages:repeatedly alternate masters for left and right pages:

<fo:<fo:page-sequence-masterpage-sequence-master master-name="contents"> master-name="contents"> <fo:repeatable-page-master-alternatives> <fo:repeatable-page-master-alternatives>

<fo:conditional-page-master-reference <fo:conditional-page-master-reference master-reference="leftPage" master-reference="leftPage"

odd-or-even="even"/>odd-or-even="even"/> <fo:conditional-page-master-reference <fo:conditional-page-master-reference master-reference ="rightPage" master-reference ="rightPage"

odd-or-even="odd"/>odd-or-even="odd"/> </fo:repeatable-page-master-alternatives> </fo:repeatable-page-master-alternatives> </fo:</fo:page-sequence-masterpage-sequence-master>>


Page SequencesPage Sequences

Other attributes of Other attributes of conditional-page-master-conditional-page-master-reference reference to select the page master to be usedto select the page master to be used::– page-position="first" page-position="first"

» oror "last" "last", or, or "rest" "rest" (neither first or last), or(neither first or last), or "any" "any"

– blank-or-not-blank="blank"/"not-blank"blank-or-not-blank="blank"/"not-blank" Next: Specifying the sequences of content pagesNext: Specifying the sequences of content pages

– by naming masters to be used, by naming masters to be used, and connecting content and connecting content flowflows to regionss to regions


Example: Contents of the Cover PageExample: Contents of the Cover Page

<fo:<fo:page-sequencepage-sequence master-reference="cover"> master-reference="cover"> <fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"> <fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"> <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" <fo:block font-family="Helvetica"

font-size="18pt" text-align="end">font-size="18pt" text-align="end"> Spanish Review Handbook </fo:block> Spanish Review Handbook </fo:block>

<fo:block font-family="Helvetica" <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" font-size="12pt" text-align="end" font-size="12pt" text-align="end"

space-after="36pt">Copyright © space-after="36pt">Copyright © 2001 J. David Eisenberg</fo:block>2001 J. David Eisenberg</fo:block>

<fo:block text-align="end"> <fo:block text-align="end">A Catcode Production </fo:block> A Catcode Production </fo:block>

</fo:flow> </fo:flow> </fo:</fo:page-sequencepage-sequence> >


Example: Cover Page FormattedExample: Cover Page Formatted

Formatting the first Formatting the first page-sequencepage-sequence gives ... gives ...


Example: Content PagesExample: Content Pages

Finally, a Finally, a page-sequencepage-sequence for content pagesfor content pages– with with static-contentstatic-content for the header and footer, and for the header and footer, and

a a flow flow for contents of pages:for contents of pages:<fo:page-sequence master-reference="contents" <fo:page-sequence master-reference="contents"

initial-page-number="2">initial-page-number="2">

<fo:<fo:static-contentstatic-content flow-name="xsl-region-before"> flow-name="xsl-region-before"> <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" font-size="10pt" text-align="center">font-size="10pt" text-align="center">

Spanish Review Handbook </fo:block> Spanish Review Handbook </fo:block> </fo:</fo:static-contentstatic-content>>


Example: Content Pages ContinueExample: Content Pages Continue

Content for page footers:Content for page footers: 

<fo:static-content flow-name="xsl-region-after"> <fo:static-content flow-name="xsl-region-after"> <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" <fo:block font-family="Helvetica" font-size="10pt" text-align="center">font-size="10pt" text-align="center"> Página Página <fo:page-number /><fo:page-number /> </fo:block> </fo:block></fo:static-content></fo:static-content>

Finally, specify the content of the page body:Finally, specify the content of the page body:


Example: Content Pages ContinueExample: Content Pages Continue

Assign a Assign a flow flow of of blocksblocks to to region-bodyregion-body::

<fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"><fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body"> <fo:block font-size="14pt"> <fo:block font-size="14pt"> Watch this space! Watch this space! </fo:block> </fo:block>

would come here -->

</fo:flow> </fo:flow></fo:page-sequence> </fo:page-sequence>

Formatting and rendering this gives … Formatting and rendering this gives …


Example: Content Pages FormattedExample: Content Pages Formatted


Using FOs in PractiseUsing FOs in Practise

XSL FO instances should not be created manuallyXSL FO instances should not be created manually Instead, use Instead, use XSLTXSLT style rules to create formatting objects style rules to create formatting objects

– fo:root fo:root with layout masters for with layout masters for match="/"match="/"– page-sequencespage-sequences with a with a flowflow for major parts (like for major parts (like

chapters, or the entire document):chapters, or the entire document):

<xsl:template match="chapter"><xsl:template match="chapter"><fo:page-sequence master-reference= … > …<fo:page-sequence master-reference= … > …

<fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body" … > <fo:flow flow-name="xsl-region-body" … > <xsl:apply-templates/><xsl:apply-templates/> </fo:flow> </fo:flow>

</fo:page-sequence> </fo:page-sequence> </xsl:template></xsl:template>


Mapping content elementsMapping content elements

– content elements would be mapped to content elements would be mapped to blocksblocks, , inlinesinlines, , list-blockslist-blocks, , tablestables, … as appropriate, … as appropriate

For example, headers:For example, headers:

<xsl:template match="header"><xsl:template match="header"> < <fo:blockfo:block font-size="14pt" font-size="14pt"

font-family="sans-serif" font-weight="bold" font-family="sans-serif" font-weight="bold" color="green" space-before="6pt" color="green" space-before="6pt" space-after="6pt"> space-after="6pt">

<xsl:apply-templates/><xsl:apply-templates/> </ </fo:blockfo:block> >

</xsl:template></xsl:template>


Examples of mapping content elementsExamples of mapping content elements

Formatting in-line emphasis:Formatting in-line emphasis:<xsl:template match="strong"><xsl:template match="strong">

<<fo:inlinefo:inline font-weight="bold"> font-weight="bold"><xsl:apply-templates/><xsl:apply-templates/>

</ </fo:inlinefo:inline>> </xsl:template></xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="emph"><xsl:template match="emph"> <<fo:inlinefo:inline font-style="italic"> font-style="italic">

<xsl:apply-templates/><xsl:apply-templates/> </ </fo:inlinefo:inline>>

</xsl:template></xsl:template>

More examples in the exercisesMore examples in the exercises


SummarySummary

It is a standard!It is a standard!– well, almost: a W3C Recommendationwell, almost: a W3C Recommendation– emerging implementations seem promisingemerging implementations seem promising– currently used mainly for producing PDF currently used mainly for producing PDF

» browser support being expected … browser support being expected …

XSL is a powerful (and complex) style XSL is a powerful (and complex) style language for XML documentslanguage for XML documents– allows arbitrary transformations of input documentsallows arbitrary transformations of input documents– allows fine-tuned specification of formatted allows fine-tuned specification of formatted

representationrepresentation


Expert Views on XSLExpert Views on XSL

””What is XSL-FO and When Should I Use It” in What is XSL-FO and When Should I Use It” in Seybold Seybold ReportReport, 2(17) (Dec. 02) by S. Deach, an , 2(17) (Dec. 02) by S. Deach, an XSL 1.0 co-XSL 1.0 co-author and computer scientist at Adobe:author and computer scientist at Adobe:– ””XSL-FO is now in the ’early-adopter’ phase”XSL-FO is now in the ’early-adopter’ phase”– ””It is expected that a wide variety of authoring tools It is expected that a wide variety of authoring tools

become available […] I expect a significant adoption […] become available […] I expect a significant adoption […] over a three-to-five year time frame”over a three-to-five year time frame”

– ””XSL-FO is best [.. in] generating content-driven XSL-FO is best [.. in] generating content-driven documents in response to individual customer requests”documents in response to individual customer requests”

– ””Today, XSL is most useful if you need to produce Today, XSL is most useful if you need to produce customer-tailored, paginated documents on a server.”customer-tailored, paginated documents on a server.”

Documents

SDPL 2004Notes 6: XSL Formatting1 6 XSL: Extensible Stylesheet Language n An advanced style language for XML documents: 1. Language for transforming XML