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dbd1-Visitor
1-Visitor
November 11, 2015
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Can I create "List of effective pages" in Arbortext Styler edited in APP?

  • November 11, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 4153 views

Hi,

Can I create "List of effective pages" in Arbortext Styler  6.0 edited in APP(with an style file)?

    Best answer by GarethOakes

    In most systems I've seen, the change information is indicated by actual markup, either XML elements, attributes or processing instructions. If the changes are not marked up then your system has to calculate the changes (which adds another layer of complexity).

    Assuming you are using the APP engine, the page number is readily available via the documented Javascript FOM.

    The algorithm would be something like: 1. Use an array variable to accumulate change information, the array index is the sequential page number. 2. Ensure array variable is cleared prior to the first format. 3. During format, each time you hit a change mark, check the array variable for the current page. 4. If the change is newer then update the array variable, otherwise leave it alone. 5. In your LEP section you will run a function to generate the list of effective pages. 6. This function will iterate through your array variable and spit out the change information, per page. 7. If your LEP is at the start of your document (as it usually is), then you will need to format twice - it is only the 2nd time around that the array variable will be fully populated.

    I'm sorry but if you need more than the above, then you really need either training by, or assistance from, a 3rd party. Next step is analysis of content and document requirements then implementation in actual code.

    3 replies

    C
    ChrisWestern12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    November 11, 2015

    Hello,

    Yes it is be possible to create LEP functrionality within APP stylesheets. Native APP would be easier, but it should be possible with source edits and/or template associations.

    There are many variations to what individual customer LEP requirements are so it would depend greatly on this and your content structure.

    We have studied this for a customer with with DITA and it is cirtainly feasable, with a little hands on work.

    Regards
    Chris

    www.arbortext.solutions

      D
      dbd1-VisitorAuthor
      1-Visitor
      November 12, 2015

      I'm trying to create a LEPs with all pages and a date that comes from xml file and i don't know how to have access to all generated number of pages and integrate LEP in the pdf file.

      The design of LEP should look like below:

      CHPATER 1

           Page 1   Date

           Page 2   Date

           Page 3   Date

      CHPATER 2

           Page 1   Date

           Page 2   Date

           Page 3   Date

           Page 4   Date


      Can i do this with an associated template, or other solution?

      G
      GarethOakes16-Pearl
      16-Pearl
      November 12, 2015

      Does that mean you want to merge another XML file (the LEP data file) into your main XML file? You can do that before processing, is easiest, otherwise you would have to look into either ACL scripting or an APP source override or associated template solution.

      G
      GarethOakes16-Pearl
      16-Pearl
      November 11, 2015

      As Chris has alluded to, this is not "out of the box". Also it depends on what degree of automation you require as to how much effort you need to expend on setting up the stylesheet (template). Arbortext Change Page for Defense used to support this for MILSPEC documentation but I believe that product is discontinued.

        D
        dbd1-VisitorAuthor
        1-Visitor
        November 16, 2015

        My issue is how to capture the change information and the page number during formatting.

        What are the events that can help me capture these information?

        When I was saying that I don’t know the workflow, I actually meant that I don’t know what Arbortext is doing exactly when processing the .app for formatting.

        G
        GarethOakes16-PearlAnswer
        16-Pearl
        November 18, 2015

        In most systems I've seen, the change information is indicated by actual markup, either XML elements, attributes or processing instructions. If the changes are not marked up then your system has to calculate the changes (which adds another layer of complexity).

        Assuming you are using the APP engine, the page number is readily available via the documented Javascript FOM.

        The algorithm would be something like: 1. Use an array variable to accumulate change information, the array index is the sequential page number. 2. Ensure array variable is cleared prior to the first format. 3. During format, each time you hit a change mark, check the array variable for the current page. 4. If the change is newer then update the array variable, otherwise leave it alone. 5. In your LEP section you will run a function to generate the list of effective pages. 6. This function will iterate through your array variable and spit out the change information, per page. 7. If your LEP is at the start of your document (as it usually is), then you will need to format twice - it is only the 2nd time around that the array variable will be fully populated.

        I'm sorry but if you need more than the above, then you really need either training by, or assistance from, a 3rd party. Next step is analysis of content and document requirements then implementation in actual code.

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