Re: [docbook] Automatically create index of commands

[davidw@dedasys.com (David N. Welton)]

Bob McIlvride <robert@cogent.ca> writes:

> It might not be the easiest route, but I think the way to do it is
> to use the <reference> and <refentry> tags in DocBook.  Each command
> would become a <refentry>, and you could then group common commands
> within specific <reference>s, each with its own title.  For example,
> we do this for functions in our "Gamma Manual", as seen here:

> http://developers.cogentrts.com/cogent/cogentdocs/bookgam.html#id2853566
> (scroll down about 1/2 way)

Interesting looking language:-)

> The way to get a short description is to put a <refnamediv> in each
> <refentry>, with a <refpurpose> to hold the description.

> The output for all this does not appear in the index, as you have
> requested, but rather in the table of contents.  However, you can
> also auto-generate an index where everything is organized strictly
> alphabetically, which appears at the back of the book.  Thus you get
> the best of both worlds.  To my understanding, most technical
> manuals are organized in this way.

Hrm... I had really hoped to get an index on the same page as the
commands.  I don't have enough, yet, to break them all out into
separate pages.  Is the ref stuff still appropriate in that case?

In any case I'm pretty sure I also want the index either on the same
page or a second page, but not in the table of contents.  I guess it's
time to start hitting the XSL file.

In any case, thankyou for your time and the suggestions!
-- 
David N. Welton
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