Hi Dan:

>From dstrom@ccs.neu.edu Mon Nov 16 13:49:43 1998
>From: "Daniel J. Strom" <dstrom@ccs.neu.edu>
>To: lieber@ccs.neu.edu
>Subject: Re:  Project Web Page
>
>> Thank you. Good example explaining your project.
>> 
>> One interesting feature of your project is that it is probably
>> easier to generate an adaptive program than to generate 
>> a non-adaptive one.
>> 
>
>Yes, I noticed that too.  I especially like how easy it makes computer-
>generated programs.
>
>> Is XSL predefined or could you use adaptive specifications
>> as part of XSL. That might make it easier to define the appearance
>> of a document.
>> 
>
>As far as I know, XSL is not yet a standard so things could change, but
>are two components of XSL relevant to this (as I understand it).  In the
>example I used on the web page with the style-rules, there are a number
>of pre-defined attributes (such as font-size, etc.)  This allows flexibility
>only within the set of attributes.
>
>In addition, there is the <rule> construct which allows us to output any
>arbitrary text for a given tag.  This is how I would handle the LaTeX case
>which essentially involves rewriting the tag to a different format.
>
>So, assuming I understood your question, the answer is that it does not
>need to be constrained by the attributes that are predefined.
>
>However, XSL is not like XML in that you define things arbitrarily.  An XSL
>specification is tied to a DTD (or family of DTDs).  In it you just specify
>for each tag in the DTD (explicitly or by inheritance) how it is supposed to
>look.  For example, "if it is a <title>, use an 18pt font" or "if it is a
><title> in a chapter, rewrite it as \chapter{<whatever>}".
>
>In that sense, I think I would have to call XSL predefined within the context
>of your question.
>
>So while I plan to have a growth plan for the XSL portion (for example, in the
>later versions treating tags differently based on what their ancestors are),
>unless I've misunderstood what you've said, I don't think the specification
>of the appearance is adaptive (although my implementation will use adaptive

That is fine. I was just checking.

>programming since I will be using more and more of the capabilities of XSL).
>
>So, sorry for rambling.  I was just writing down my thought process in trying
>to decide what 'Is XSL predefined' meant.  If I misunderstood, please let me
>know.

You understood the question the way I intended.

>
>> -- Karl
>
>
>Thanks,
>Dan
>
-- Karl