


doctools_intro(n)      Documentation tools      doctools_intro(n)


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NAME
       doctools_intro - doctools introduction

DESCRIPTION
       doctools  (short  for documentation tools) stands for a set of related,
       yet different, entities which are working together for  the  easy  cre-
       ation and transformation of documentation. These are

       [1]    A  tcl based language for the semantic markup of text. Markup is
              represented by Tcl commands interspersed with the actual text.

       [2]    A package providing the ability  to  read  and  transform  texts
              written  in  that  markup language. It is important to note that
              the actual transformation of the input text is delegated to plu-
              gins.

       [3]    An  API describing the interface between the package above and a
              plugin.


       Which of the more detailed documents are relevant to the reader of this
       introduction depends on their role in the documentation process.


       [1]    A  writer of documentation has to understand the markup language
              itself. A beginner to doctools should read the  more  informally
              written  doctools  language  introduction first. Having digested
              this the formal doctools language  syntax  specification  should
              become  understandable.  A  writer experienced with doctools may
              only need the doctools language command reference from  time  to
              time to refresh her memory.

              While  a document is written the dtplite application can be used
              to validate it, and after completion it also performs  the  con-
              version  into  the  chosen system of visual markup, be it *roff,
              HTML, plain text, wiki, etc.

       [2]    A processor of documentation written in the doctools markup lan-
              guage has to know which tools are available for use.

              The main tool is the aforementioned dtplite application provided
              by Tcllib. A more powerful one (in terms of options and  ability
              to  configure  it)  is the dtp application, provided by Tclapps.
              At the bottom level, common to both applications,  however  sits
              the package doctools, providing the basic facilities to read and
              process files containing text in the doctools format.

       [3]    At last, but not least, plugin writers have  to  understand  the
              interaction  between  the  doctools  package and its plugins, as
              described in the doctools plugin API reference.





doctools                       1.0                              1





doctools_intro(n)      Documentation tools      doctools_intro(n)


RELATED FORMATS
       doctools does not stand alone, it has two companion formats. These  are
       called  docidx  and  doctoc,  and  they  are  for the markup of keyword
       indices, and tables of contents, respectively.  They are  described  in
       their  own  sets  of documents, starting at the docidx introduction and
       the doctoc introduction, respectively.

BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK
       This document,  will  undoubtedly  contain  bugs  and  other  problems.
       Please  report  such in the category doctools of the Tcllib SF Trackers
       [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=12883].  Please  also  report
       any ideas for enhancements you may have.

SEE ALSO
       docidx_intro,   doctoc_intro,   doctools,   doctools_lang_cmdref,  doc-
       tools_lang_faq,   doctools_lang_intro,    doctools_lang_syntax,    doc-
       tools_plugin_apiref

KEYWORDS
       markup, semantic markup

CATEGORY
       Documentation tools

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (c) 2007 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users.sourceforge.net>































doctools                       1.0                              2


