We started using FOP based on the same requirements and have been thrilled with the results. If you can get from XSL-FO to PDF, I'm not sure why you might need a path *back*. If you are looking to create the PDF through something like Acrobat Exchange, then spit out the xsl:fo, you may be in trouble. But if you're willing to sit down and learn xsl:fo, IMO FOP makes a nice, powerful, free solution.
Although I have heard of XSL:FO WSYWIG editors in the works. Any updates? -Matt > -----Original Message----- > From: John Marshall [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 12:48 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Convert existing PDF to XSL-FO tool > > > I am glad to see that the expert advice is *don't*. I was > given the project of finding an alternative to HTML that > allowed pagination and my colleagues' suggestion was to try > PDF. I found that by the time a document is in PDF it is > decomposed into glyphs and vectors and all of the context > information has been filtered out. The answer to my problem > was, of course, XSL-FO with an easy and rational path to PDF, > but I do not believe there is any way back from PDF to XSL-FO > that will not involve pain and heartache. > > John Marshall > Accurate Software > > 80 Peach Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1XH, UK. > Tel: +44 (0)118 977 3889 > Fax: +44 (0)118 977 1260 > http://www.accuratesoftware.com <http://www.accuratesoftware.com> > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Andreas L. Delmelle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 09 September 2003 18:31 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Convert existing PDF to XSL-FO tool > > > > From: Ganesh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > I am not using XSL-FO from XSLT. I using Apache Velocity > which has an > > inbuilt template language (VTL) to fetch data from Java > Beans on to any > > text file. The dynamic data are merged with XSL-FO template using > > Velocity and the resulting XSL-FO file is then given to FOP for > > generating PDF. > > > > Not sure what to make of this: first you don't use XSL-FO > from XSLT, but you > *are* using an XSL-FO template? (Would the latter be a FO in > which some sort > of a classic search-and-replace is performed? In that case, I do think > XML+XSL-FO is a more than valid alternative. Meaning: perform > the merging > with Velocity in a 'template XML' that could afterwards be > styled - e.g. via > Xalan - to deliver the FO) > > > I agree that reverse compiler are not precise, but I am a novice in > > XSL-FO template creation. It would be of great help if any tool can > > provide a good start on which I can build on. It would be > good enough if > > I could copy-paste the PDF file content onto some XSL-FO > editor and it > > generates the XSL-FO for me. Is anybody aware of such a > XSL-FO editor?. > > I heard of XMLSpy, when I searched the Google, but not sure which is > > best for my requirement(ie., with existing PDF and free if > possible). > > First of all, I know of no such tool ( In fact there are > AFAIK no tools that > take a pdf as basis and deliver some other output-format, I guess the > process would just be too complicated ). Also, difficulties > would probably > arise when a tool like this would deliver XSL-FO containing tags or > constructs not yet supported by FOP ... > Second, I think XMLSpy would not help you out here ( AFAIK > they do offer an > alternative to FOP, so I cannot help but NOT recommend you > this ... ;) ) > And third, I really think this would not be a good way for an > XSL-FO-novice > to start learning XSL-FO template creation. Start from > scratch as this will > definitely learn you more about what the fo-tags do... (first-hand > experience and all that) > > If you insist, however, on having someone/something else > perform the pdf to > fo translation, send us a pdf and I would be more than > willing to help you > on your way to make a fo for that kind of layout. > > Greetz, > > Andreas Delmelle > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > Accurate Software > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.accuratesoftware.com > > Europe . North America . Australasia . Africa > > The information in this email is confidential and privileged > and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity > listed above. If you are neither the intended individual, or > entity listed above, nor the person responsible for the > delivery of this email to the intended recipients, you are > hereby notified that any unauthorised distribution, copying > or use of this email is prohibited. If you have received this > email in error, please notify the Accurate system manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] or on +44 (0)118 977 3889. > The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily > be the views held by the Accurate Group. > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
