About dtd files, Xml rule sets, Preparing xml files for k4 or incopy workflows – Adobe InDesign CS4 User Manual
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USING INDESIGN CS4
XML
The Tags panel lists tags for elements. You can import, export, add, delete, and rename tags. You use the Tags panel
to apply element tags to content that you plan to export to XML, and to apply tags to frames before importing XML
content into them.
See also
About DTD files
To share XML data with others, you need to agree on a standard set of tag names and element attributes so that
everyone in your group uses and applies tags the same way. One method for handling the sharing of XML data is to
use a document type definition (DTD) file.
A DTD file provides a set of elements and attributes for members of the group to use. It also defines the rules about
where elements can appear in the structural hierarchy. For example, the DTD file may require the Title element to be
a child of the Story element because the title is supposed to appear inside the story; if you tag a title without tagging the
story it appears in, the DTD file marks the Title element as invalid. You can search for and flag invalid structural errors
in an InDesign file with a DTD file. This process is called validating.
To use a DTD file (if your document doesn’t already contain one), you load it into your document. This imports the
element names from the DTD into the Tags panel. Others who have loaded the same DTD file have the same element
names, which ensures that everyone in the group uses the same elements. The imported elements are locked, which
means they can’t be deleted or renamed unless the DTD file is deleted from the document.
You may find that a DTD file created by a group or industry similar to yours includes tags and structures that meet
your needs. For a current list of registered DTDs, visit
(English only).
See also
XML rule sets
XML rule sets are sets of instructions written in a scripting language (such as JavaScript or AppleScript) that evaluate
XML data and take certain actions if that data meets certain conditions. Each rule consists of at least one condition and
at least one action. A rule evaluates the XML data against the conditions, and if a condition is met, then it takes the
appropriate action. For example, an XML rule can specify that whenever the Paragraph element appears under the
Subhead element (a condition), a specific style (an action) is applied; or that whenever the Product element (a
condition) appears, a new frame is created and a product image is imported (actions). XML rules are a means of
dynamically creating and formatting layouts based on XML.
.
Preparing XML files for K4 or InCopy workflows
To prepare files with XML tagging for use within the K4 or InDesign/InCopy workflow environments, you may need
to adjust how you prepare the structure and import XML into InDesign files.
There are two methods for importing XML into InDesign: merge and append. Merge can replace the existing structure,
whereas append adds to any existing structure. In both cases, it is important that the root element is not associated
with a text frame. Either use the default element named "Root" or rename this element based on your current workflow
or requirement as needed, again being sure that it is not associated with a text frame.
Updated 18 June 2009