Separate compilation of structured documents

Groves, Michael J.; Brailsford, David F.

Abstract

This paper draws a parallel between document preparation and the traditional processes of compilation and link editing for computer programs. A block-based document model is described which allows for separate compilation of various portions of a document. These portions are brought together and merged by a linker program, called dlink, whose pilot implementation is based on ditroff and on its underlying intermediate code. In the light of experiences with dlink the requirements for a universal object-module language for documents are discussed. These requirements often resemble the characteristics of the intermediate codes used by programming-language compilers but with interesting extra constraints which arise from the way documents are executed .

Citation

Groves, M. J., & Brailsford, D. F. (1993). Separate compilation of structured documents

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 1993
• Deposit Date: Nov 1, 2005
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 9, 2007
• Journal: Electronic Publishing -- Origination, Dissemination and Design
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 4
• Keywords: Link editing, Separate compilation, Structured documents, Formatting, LATEX, Troff, PDF
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1024789