RE: [docbook-apps] procedure steps

["Bort, Paul" <pbort@tmwsystems.com>]

> From: Gabor Kovesdan [mailto:gabor@kovesdan.org]
> 
> > Why is a substeps wrapper required for the second case?  Most likely
> > to avoid confusion.
> 
> Thanks Bob, it looks now somewhat better, yet there's still an ugly case. If I
> want to insert stepalternatives between two steps, I can only do it if I wrap it
> into a step, otherwise the FO file will be invalid.

It might help to back up and consider what stepalternatives is for: to indicate that exactly one of the steps in the set should be performed:

<step><para>Get a loaf of bread</para></step>
<step><para>If they have eggs, get a dozen</para></step>
<step>
	<stepalternatives>
		<step><para Condition="not-funny">Get a dozen eggs</para></step>
		<step><para Condition="funny">Get a dozen loaves of bread</para></step>
		<step><para Condition="likely">Forget to go to the store</para></step>
	<stepalternatives>
</step>

If you have steps like this:
	1. Do part A
	2. Do part B
	3. If you can't do part B, do part C

You might want to code that as:

<step>
	<para>Do part A</para>
</step>
<step>
	<para>Do one of these:</para>
	<stepalternatives>
		<step><para>Do part B</para></step>
		<step><para>If you can't do part B, do part C</para></step>
	<stepalternatives>
</step>

When used as originally intended, it is semantically clear and not uglier IMHO than any other XML. Hope this helps.

Regards,
Paul Bort
TMW Systems, Inc.
pbort@tmwsystems.com