Re: [docbook-apps] XInclude, chapter headers & changing font size in <appendix>

[Bob Stayton <bobs@sco.com>]

On Wed, Oct 22, 2003 at 08:56:30PM -0700, Alex L wrote:
> 
> >> 3. In the XSL-FO DocBook stylesheets, I want to display all the
> >> body text of a particular component-level element, for example
> >> <appendix> and other backmatter, in a smaller font from the main
> >> body font (say 7pt).  I thought I could use pagemasters to do this
> >> and following Bob's instructions at::
> >> http://sagehill.net/docbookxsl/PageDesign.html
> 
> [...]
> 
> -> The fo:region-body element in XSL-FO does not take inheritable
> -> properties like font-size.  It has to go on either fo:page-sequence
> -> or fo:flow.  Those are both initiated by the content templates, not
> -> the page setup templates.  That means you need to customize the
> -> appendix template, etc.
> 
> Yuck.  Hmm, I was afraid you were going to say that was the case.  I
> always have an aversion to customizing major element templates
> directly, because it's always a hassle to port changes forward for new
> releases since you never know if your customizations will break the
> new version or more likely, you miss out on bugfixes/new features that
> have been included.

I agree completely.  There should be an easier way.
 
> It seems strange that if the region-body is supposed to be for
> customizing page design (margins etc.), it isn't also responsible for
> propagating font changes within those page-masters.  Is this simply an
> oversight of XSL-FO, or is it a design "feature"?

Good question.  I suspect it was by design.
 
> Otherwise, is there any plan for developing a parallel customization
> framework (similar to user.pagemasters, but perhaps using
> xsl:attribute-sets). that could be used to customize the different
> component level items without having to fiddle with the element
> templates directly just like with verbatim.properties? 
> 
> i.e. set appendix.properties, which gets passed into the <appendix>
> template in fo/component.xsl something like so:
>  
> <fo:page-sequence hyphenate="{$hyphenate}"
>                   master-reference="{$master-reference}"
>                   xsl:use-attribute-sets="appendix.properties">
> 
> Should I file an RFE at SourceForge for this?

Yes, that would be a good feature.
 
> (PS. Does anybody know how to "disable" mail delivery while remaining
> subscribed for posting-approval purpose as you can do with Mailman?  I
> use GMANE to read the list to save space in my e-mail archives.  It
> used to be setup this way, and then all of a sudden it stopped working
> and I started getting all the mail again, and I had to unsubscribe.)

Can your mail client redirect mail from a given sender
to /dev/null?

-- 

Bob Stayton                                 400 Encinal Street
Publications Architect                      Santa Cruz, CA  95060
Technical Publications                      voice: (831) 427-7796
The SCO Group                               fax:   (831) 429-1887
                                            email: bobs@sco.com