Dialects and XML

Here's a XML to PDF converter written in Java: http://xml.apache.org/fop/index.html There's obvious applications here for generation of high quality documents from Rebol. By writing a XML dialect for Rebol, script output from Rebol could be semi-automatically "poured" into a .PDF file. By converting the FOP's Java code into Rebol script, and adding a Rebol .pdf launch command, automatic high quality print files are available for display or printing. Carrying on from this, writing a Rebol script that reads a form letter and a database, generating a .pdf file then launching the file with a print command. This could then eliminate at least one application of MS Word in many offices. Andrew Martin ICQ: 26227169 http://members.nbci.com/AndrewMartin/

Hi Andrew, In my opinion - ability to generate/read various file formats is very essential. Imagine some kind of e-commerce bot, putting your data into MSWord file, .pdf file, etc. I think the functionality is so essential, ti has to be also fast enough. That's the right place for REBOL components. Once we will get dynamic components, I have no problem buying /pdf /msoffice set of components for native generating, reading various file formats ... As for your XML<->Java<->pdf converter - it's good as instant solution, but hardly good enough ... We even don't have "professional" XML parser and I am not sure /Command will have one, although it was planned earlier by RT. -pekr-