Re: PGM scripts and Xywrite.

["Robert Holmgren" holmgren@xxxxxxxx]

** Reply to message from Mark Butler  on Thu, 19 Jan
2006 13:21:36 -0000


> Is there any chance a
> program exists to move the Xywrite files to another format. i.e. ASCII
> text??? Then i could write a simple parser to move the commands to another
> language.

You need to give me some info, Mark. Do you have a copy of XyWrite? Do you
know how to use it? XyWrite files *are* ASCII text, as-is. Formatting
(layout) commands (also plain text -- not binary!) are sometimes embedded in
them, but otherwise they are Ascii. What is it that you want to do? Strip the
formatting and leave only text? LOAD STRIP.PRN or MAIL.PRN, and command TYF.
Result: File FO.TMP gives you pure text, no formatting. Somehow I get the
feeling that you aren't really sure what to do, how to proceed, or even how to
frame your question. You need, obviously, to know the **intent** of the
programs!! What they're designed to achieve as a result. If you grasp that,
then all you have to do is port your *files* (your text documents) to a format
you're comfortable with, and design new *programs* in whatever language to
achieve the same result when operating upon the *files*. Right? Programs and
files (documents) are independent of each other. Programs are not embedded in
documents. So really, your problem is -- I'm guessing here -- that you don't
know what the programs set out to achieve. I already gave you an extended
example of what one program tried to achieve. (Fact is, if you understood
Quark, you wouldn't really need to know anything about XyWrite, because it
would be self-evident what Quark needs, and how the source files need to be
transformed in order to *meet* Quark's needs. I get a
stumbling-around-in-the-dark feeling here.) The way your question is framed,
all you're asking is, how to get your files into Ascii. Well, they *are* Ascii
already! So, if that's all you need, you're all set: just write the simple
parser.

But if you don't know how the programs work, then you'll either have to learn
the rudiments of XPL, or hire someone to sit with you (because its unlikely
that this "someone" knows SED or Quark or whatever). Surely somebody in your
shop is proficient at XyWrite.

Or, if you're just asking whether there's a program that converts XyWrite
programs into Perl scripts, the answer is No.

-----------------------------
Robert Holmgren
holmgren@xxxxxxxx
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