Conference vaxuum::document_ft

    To my knowledge, no one is working on a DSR[plus] to BL07 SDML converter.
    
    Interesting problem here. There is a diminishing need for a DSR->SDML
    converter within DEC; the majority of the pages have already been
    converted. Customers, however, are starting to fuss about such a gadget
    as they become familiar with Document.
    
    Anyone have a programmer sitting idly by? I have a Teco manual I
    can lend.

    I have updated my dsr to bl6 converter so that it now converts
    to bl7.
    
    	It handles the obvious things and a definition list cliche.
    
    	I wonder how many people are interested in converting DSR
    table utility files?
    
    	Would anyone like to volunteer to test out this converter?

I'll test it; or at least I'll have some of my students test it. 

They like nothing better than to try to break things!

Pointers, please.



Rose

    
    We would like a crack at breaking, er, testing it too. Much
    interest in such a tool...
    
    

    
    To add my "two cents worth" -- that is, to give my support to the
    base note asking for a a converstion tool: I believe that such a tool 
    is a *highly desireable* utility, and as such, should be part of
    the base product.  My reasons follow. 
    
    Many groups within the company have not used early versions of SDML,
    having taken a "wait and see" policy, waiting for the product to
    become a bona-fide DEC product, then evaluating it like any other
    DEC product.  Many groups have been waiting for the user interface
    to be improved, and this version is certainly a step in that direction.
    There are groups within CUP that have taken this approach as well as
    many other groups outside of CUP that do writing, course development, etc.
    
    Also, many engineering groups (such as the one I'm working for)
    have many many disk blocks full of specs and other textual material, in
    simple DSR and DSR+.
    
    The one thing most groups have in common is a very strong interest in 
    using this product (especially when they see the output), but it is 
    unrealistic to expect them to convert, without providing a supported
    connversion utility.  Don't forget how long DSR has been *the* DEC
    standard text processing product. 
      
    I strongly believe that if DOCUMENT is going to enjoy success as
    a product, this conversion utility should be made a supported tool,
    and as such, treated the same as any other element in the product
    set.
       

    Speaking as a member of a writing group (Software Course Development)
    that still has most of its material in DSR and expects to have to
    convert it to Document, I agree the converter is essential. 
    
    					Val 

    Re: .1
    Maybe "the majority of the pages have already been converted" in
    YOUR group, but certainly not in the group I work in!  We're just
    getting started!  I anticipate that we'll be doing conversions for
    at least the next year.

    RE .2
    
    I'd really like (like others, i'm sure) to test your converter.
    Could you please give us the location of your converter ?
    
    Thanx by advance,
    Pierre.

Another user waiting for a pointer...

Dale

    There was a converter that converted files created using the DSR
    (+?) Table Utility to .GNC files. It was based on TECO. It is 
    still around but provides bl06 format tags, not T1.0.

    Files are in NEWDOC::dua0:[writer.tools]TABLE*.*
    
    I believe its author (George Woods) has since retired from DIGITAL.

    
    Sorry it's not in a state worth sending out at present, mainly
    because we don't have the time to support it (respond to bugs, etc.).
    We'll post its availability when its ready.
    
    patti anklam

    OK a month has passed. Evidentally there was a translator and should
    be one now.
    
    Please.. What is the status.  I am willing to test a converter that
    does most of the work..
    
    dr bob
    

    I don't know the status (the "status-ticians" are at DECUS all week) but 
    we've been cranking out the field test update, so please don't assume 
    we've spent the month on the DSR converter.  We're not trying to hide 
    anything -- just busy, that's all.
    
    Thanks, though, for checking in periodically.  You will get a real
    answer from someone who knows.
    
    Mark

    The new DSR converter is now entering testing.  Sorry to keep
    you all waiting but we have been doing other things.
    
    Before making a pointer available, I'd like to test it on a
    variety of files myself.  There is a lot of variation in the
    way DSR is used and I'd like to see how the converter responds
    to different styles.
    
    I hope you will be able to use it yourself in about 10 days.
    Thanks for your patience.
    
    	Helen
    

    -<a bomb ready to explode>-
    
    
    Our writing group is just starting to get its feet wet using
    DOCUMENT. We have probably hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
    writer hours invested in dsr+ files and all hell will break loose
    when a dsr+ --> SDML converter becomes available.
    
    I agree with other replys in that a good converter is a must for
    the product. I can't even begin to believe that a tiny fraction
    of dsr files have been converted.
    
    anxiously waiting
    
    John
    

    I have a translator available for converting DSR to SDML. It resides
    at delni::user$34:[wiitanen.document]. There are four files:
    dsr2gnc.com, dsr2gnc.exe, dsr2gnc.lno, and dsr2gnc.ini. The lno
    file is a manual. To install simply copy all files and modify
    the com file to point to the exe's location. Get in touch with me
    for more info.
    
    Peter Wiitanen
    

Is this a different converter than what Helen Willett (name?) was working on
and testing recently?

If yes, could we have an update on the "official" converter?  


Thanx

Rose

    The "official" converter is in testing and should be available
    "any day now".
    
    Thanks to all of you who sent files.  I am using them as a test
    base.  
    
    DSR is a strange animal. 90% of its users are happy with 70%
    of its functionality.  That 70% is straightforward and easily
    mapped into DOCUMENT.  The rest is a little harder.
    
    Also, because of DSR's limitations, users must be creative to
    get desired results.  Such creativity is often expressed in
    different ways.
    
    I hope the converter will be ready towards the end of next
    week for you all to try.  

    Re: .16
    
    It might be available to you but not the rest of the world I'm afraid!
    I think you need to check your protections...
    
    Gavin
    who found this out at 4am your time! :-)

>   ...................................................... The lno file
    is a brief manual.
Is there  any  manual  available  for  sites  that  don't  have  an  LN01?
formatter sources, ugly as they may be, are a lot better than nothing.

    
    ...the .lno file...
    
    Me, too!  An LN03 version would be nice, but anything I can print
    will do  (back to the old LP!!).
    
    (Please)
    
    Andrew

    This reply replaces .20.
    
    There are five files for the translator:
    dsr2gnc.exe - the executable image
    dsr2gnc.com - the command file
    dsr2gnc.lno - brief documentation in ln01 format
    dsr2gnc.ln3 - brief documentation in ln03 format
    dsr2gnc.ini - an initialization file see doc.
    
    These files must be copied individually because the directory is
    protected.
    
    In order to install dsr2gnc simply move all the files to a directory.
    Edit the .com file and change the symbol dsr2gncdir to point to
    this directory. If you wish a default printer for the user
    documentation, change the symbol dsr2gncprinter to the default printer.
    The print command prints the ln01 version; you may wish to change
    this to the ln03 version.
    
    NOTE
    The translator is to BL6 ( a BL7 model is in the works).
    The translator needs complete dsr commands or the legal abbrev.
    
    Define a symbol dsr2gnc and equate it to @dsr2gnc.com in order
    for the user documentation to be accurate.
    
    Send mail if I can help you with bugs.
    
    Peter
    

  I'm not unfamilair with statements like "finished next week". It's
  just that somehow we don't always seem to agree on the length of
  a week. Martian weeks? Earth weeks? Lunar weeks? 

  Just kiddin', but when is the converter ready? I may give it a go
  to modify my RNO-->LaTeX converter to do the same for Document...

Theo

I've tried DSR2GNC. It expects to find MAKESDF - which we don't seem to 
have on our system. Where do I look for that?

Nick

    Unofficial Translator use of makesdf
    
    ONCE AGAIN DSR2GNC TRANSLATES TO BL 6666666666666666.
    

    and the " official translator " ?  Anything new?

Gee, we've ignored this for a few weeks.  Methinks it's time to bring it 
up again.

             WHERE'S THE DSR ---> SDML CONVERTER ?????

I've promised *something* to students in a class I am teaching in two 
weeks.  If necessary, I'll take them through DSRGNC2 then DOC$CONVERT; 
but I'd rather not.


Thanx

Rose

Work on the converter has been suspended for the past couple of weeks due
to a resource shortage. Work is scheduled to resume next week and to take
approximately two months to complete. We will keep you posted as to progress
in replies to this note. We will not be making interim baselevels available
for general use until such time as the converter is robust enough to
consistently produce good SDML code. We may, however, continue to solicit
sample DSR files for our own use in testing the converter. (It's to 
everyone's disadvantage for us to prematurely release the converter.)

I apologize for keeping you hanging.

--Brian

Thanx, Brian; the prompt reply is appreciated!

I'll copy the DSR2GNC files referenced earlier and go the 
DSR2GNC --> DOC$CONVERT route.  I've had users do this before, and 
it' actually not too painful for them so long as I'm explain strange
things up front, such as <delimit> tags.



Rose