Re: Database-Style Queries in structured FM

["Oleg A. Paraschenko" <olpa@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

  Hi Dan,

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 12:33:48 -0800
DW Emory <danemory@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> The most fundamental advantage of structured documents is the ability to
> parse them into their constituent components for storage in a relational
> or object-oriented database, where complex queries can be issued to
> retrieve, and or modify, selected data.
> 
> But a structured FrameMaker document or book is also a searchable
> database which could be searched using queries similar to those used in
> a database.

  I completely agree.

...
> 
> What's needed is a FrameScript or FDK client which would expand the 
> Find/Change capability to more closely emulate the the query
> capabilities available when a structured FM document is exported to SGML
> or XML and then stored in a database.

  We also though about it, although not from user's view, but from
programmer's view. It is a nigtmare to work with structure, especially
with attributes. I was ready to start working on [1]xpath interface
to FM structure tree, but later decided not to work. Reasons are simple:

* investment to development is big enough (at least for a small company);

* there is no indication that somebody need such tool, especially if it
  is not free (just for example, are you ready to pay 20 euro? 40? 60?);

* we'd like to imlement most of code as C library that can be linked with
  FDK programs. Also we'd like to make it accessible from the FrameScript.
  But it is not possible yet to write extensions for FrameScript.

* It is not wise to develop software for the dead platform.

  Pity, but for me there are too much objections for a such project.

  If you decide to start working on it, I very wish you success and luck
and give you a moral support.

...

> 
> 
> FrameMaker/FrameMaker+SGML Document Design & Database Publishing
> DW Emory <danemory@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath


-- 
Oleg Paraschenko olpa@ http://bitplant.de/ - IT Services company

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