Re: [docbook-apps] PDF Output: calling a different page master for a specific element

["Bob Stayton" <bobs@sagehill.net>]

Hi Jeff,
If you are using XEP for your XSL-FO processor, you can use the 
rx:flow-section extension element provided by RenderX that is like a block 
that supports multiple columns.

If you are using Antenna House, you can use their extension that allows a 
axf:column-count property on an fo:block-container.

If you are using FOP, it is possible, but not easy.  As you found, the basic 
problem is that the page column layout is defined in the page-master, but 
you can only change page-masters when you start a new page-sequence. But 
chapters start new page-sequences, not tables.

There is a workaround for FOP. G. Ken Holman of Crane Softwrights Ltd. has 
published a method for breaking up a single page-sequence into multiple 
page-sequences with different masters.   His Page Sequence Master Interleave 
(PSMI) method introduces an intermediate XSL process to rearrange the pages 
in an FO file. PSMI is described at 
http://www.cranesoftwrights.com/resources/psmi/index.htm.

Bob Stayton
Sagehill Enterprises
bobs@sagehill.net

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jeff Hooker" <Jeff.Hooker@pmcs.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 2:36 PM
To: <docbook-apps@lists.oasis-open.org>
Subject: [docbook-apps] PDF Output: calling a different page master for a 
specific element

> Hi all,
>
> I'd like to call a specific page master for an element that contains a 
> specific attribute value. Essentially, if for long, narrow tables I want 
> to be able to call a three-column page master that prevents it from 
> flowing over a 100 pages when 33 would do. I'm having issues figuring out 
> how to call the new master, and a certain degree of difficulty 
> understanding the exact hierarchy I'm working with here.
>
> I've been puzzling over the references in Docbook XSL trying to understand 
> how to apply them to this case, but have so far come up dry. Has anyone 
> written up a good explanation of this somewhere?
>
> Cheers,
> Jeff.