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2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 6:08 am
by jwarde
I am interested in collaborating to create a DITA template that supports a Dual Language document. On the left the source language...on the right the target language. Language support is key (left language might Arabic / right language English). Also, it must allow for text alignment , i.e. the text column always retains its independence from the other. I have created documents in InDesign and Latex that can do this but do not have the "techincal chops" here to make it happen. Thanks for your consideration.. Jake
Re: 2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 2:57 pm
by Radu
Hi,
Do you want this for publishing (some kind of double column PDF) or for editing?
Regards,
Radu
Re: 2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 5:22 pm
by jwarde
Radu: It would be for publishing translations of texts. Thanks, Jake
Re: 2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:21 am
by jwarde
Radu: Thank you. It is for publication of dual language texts. Here is a link to something I did in InDesign but really want to use DITA for many reasons.
https://indd.adobe.com/view/ac392496-0a ... 9e093c5688
Jake
Re: 2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 9:19 am
by Radu
Hi Jake,
That's quite an interesting use case, we need to explore this more, I will add an issue on our side.
Our DITA to PDF output based on HTML5 & CSS allows you to write and apply a custom CSS for PDF output:
https://www.oxygenxml.com/doc/versions/ ... 5-x-2.html
What I tried was to create a DITA topic looking like this:
Code: Select all
<!DOCTYPE topic PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DITA Topic//EN" "topic.dtd">
<topic id="introduction">
<title>Side by side translation</title>
<body outputclass="two-columns-table">
<bodydiv outputclass="two-columns">
<section outputclass="column">
<title>Section 1</title>
<p>Para 1</p>
</section>
<section outputclass="column">
<title>Section 1 translation</title>
<p>Para 1 translated</p>
</section>
</bodydiv>
</body>
</topic>
and then with this custom CSS:
Code: Select all
.two-columns-table{
display:table;
table-layout:fixed;
}
.two-columns {
display:table-row;
}
.column {
display:table-cell;
}
I defined a two column table layout and placed the two sections each in its own column.
This seems to look more or less like what you want.
Regards,
Radu
Re: 2-Column n / Dual Language
Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:58 am
by jwarde
Radu: Thanks much and glad you think the use case has merit. I will check out the DITA Map to PDF - based on HTML5 and CSS Transformation. I have to admit to not having the technical "chops" to test your customization code. Thanks for doing this. I get the basic gist that you set up two parallel columns, Up for learning of course how to involve myself in the customization.s, but not soon enough to reply to your post. Would love to work with someone on this and have other ideas for features., Thanks again! Jake