[TriLUG] trilug web hosting worked for me!

[Andrew C. Oliver]

I am generating the files ON fatalpha which already has a JVM.  I
lovingly hand craft the XML files using the "One true editor" (vi of
course) then run an ant build which makes html.  

Cocoon is essentially both a Java Application (command line) and a Java
Servlet.  (depending on how you use it).  It has nothing to do with the
Apache HTTPD server, it has probably more to do with Tomcat.  


Cocoon is both a dynamic publishing framework and a command line
utility.  The build I'm using to do this is one that a POI project
contributer developed and adapted from Cocoons build.  Its pretty
simple, you just edit the xml files and run it.  You can of course
replace the skins, I just ripped off the POI/Jakarta ones because making
pretty is not my thing.  


So basically I have an Ant build that kicks off a cocoon process that
goes and transforms it all.

Basically if you're publishing in XML... Cocoon is the way to do it. 
Check it out at xml.apache.org/cocoon. (IMHO).  Its originator Stefano
Mazzocchi is also in fact a super nice guy.

If you want to *serialize* XML documents as say PDF files, all you
probably will have to do is apply a stylesheet to get it in a compatible
tag format and apply a serializer.

Basically once you understand Cocoon's sitemap, its pretty easy from
there.  (You just have to deal with nitpicky XML ;-)).

If you have a fatalpha account you can see my build process there.  The
soft links are for my laziness, they point to the important parts.  

Donald Ball is a Cocoon committer I think so he can probably tell you a
bit more detail including about his ESQL, etc.  I'm about 25% developer
for Cocoon and 75% very dumb user ;-).  

Perhaps if you have specific questions I can answer those.

Thanks, I stole the style myself ;-).

-Andy

-- 
www.superlinksoftware.com
www.sourceforge.net/projects/poi - port of Excel format to java
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4487555.html 
			- fix java generics!


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