RE: [docbook-apps] DocBook Customization

["Jeff Hooker" <Jeff_Hooker@pmc-sierra.com>]

While the DITA DTDs are messy and complex, I do find the way that the DITAOT XSLs process data (i.e. refering to @class attributes rather than element names) to be a lovely, elegant way of allowing fall-through generalization. To me, it makes just as much sense to abstract the XSL from the XML as it does to abstract content from presentation.

That said, it's a damn good thing that the XSLs are easy to work with, because they sure require a lot of work when you're used to the feature set offered by DocbookXSL.

 > In terms of the cost of customization, I have found customizing the
 > DocBook 4 DTD to be easier than customizing the DITA DTDs.

Talk about complex transforms: I've been using DITA recently, and the OT 
stylesheets look pretty intimidating to me - and no 'DITA XSL The 
Complete Guide' to help sort them out!