[reportlab-users] Using the XMLmind editor for Pythonpoint presentations

[H. Turgut Uyar]

Hello,

I have found that it is fairly easy to use the XMLmind XML editor to 
prepare Pythonpoint presentations. Now I can create new presentations or 
edit existing ones where almost all elements will be displayed in a 
nearly-wysiwyg fashion. The editor also checks for validity of the 
document. Since other people also expressed a similar need I decided to 
share my solution. Here's how to use it:

1- Install the XMLmind XML editor. You can download the standard edition 
for free
    from http://www.xmlmind.com/xmleditor/. (I am using the 2.0patch1 
version for
    Windows).
2- Get the file http://www.cs.itu.edu.tr/~uyar/ppoint/pythonpoint.zip 
and extract it to
    the folder c:\program files\xmlmind_xml_editor\config (haven't 
tested on linux yet).
    This will overwrite the config.xml file and create a pythonpoint 
directory.
3- Start up the editor and use 'New' or 'Open'. You might need to read 
the editor's
    tutorials to get accustomed to it.

Most elements will be displayed correctly and if an element cannot be 
displayed (such as lines, rectangles etc.) you will see gray boxes where 
you can edit their attributes. The only problem is with table, prefmt 
and pycode elements: I could not get the editor to preserve white space 
when saving the file.

I would be happy to hear your comments and suggestions. Any help would 
be greatly appreciated.

As a final note, I had to change the pythonpoint dtd a little. I added 
effect attributes to para, table, image and shape elements. And I had to 
change the following line because the xmlmind editor claimed it was 
incorrect:

old line:
    <!ELEMENT notes para+>
new line:
    <!ELEMENT notes (para+)>

I'm not sure what I'm doing here, I was just trying to get rid of the 
error :-) I named the new dtd as version 0.1g to get the editor reload 
it. This version of the dtd can be downloaded from 
http://www.cs.itu.edu.tr/~uyar/ppoint/pythonpoint.dtd.

-- Turgut Uyar