Database Publishing
Database publishing is usually called in the context of database-driven automated media production as a summary term. A typical application is the creation of price lists and catalogs.
The basic idea is to pass database content such as part numbers and pricing information on an open-plan layout of the document, so that this will automatically update as you change, eg of prices.
The main layout programs that are eligible for this application in question are Adobe FrameMaker, InDesign and QuarkXPress, supported by extensions (plug -ins or XTensions ) of other manufacturers. Other variants of the Database Publishing's see before the " rendering " of content directly in a printable PDF version. A strong growing trend is to use a web browser to this process as remote publishing. So even complex documents can be generated automatically to extensive catalogs.
Most systems use a template -based approach, in which quasi templates of the pages are filled with the database contents - ie the pages contain markings, which are replaced by the desired data. The alternative is a rule-based layout approach, as offer him about XSL -FO or DocScape. There, layout rules are described (similar to the corporate design manual ) instead of templates.
The current layout programs provide for this type of application XML interfaces that can be adapted to particular needs using script programming. These include the scripting languages AppleScript, JavaScript, and Visual Basic.
Most layout programs can be made by third-party software in the position to deal with database content. For Adobe InDesign Plugins and Quark XPress XTensions. The majority of these extensions use ASCII text, such as Tabtexte or CSV formats.
Template -based publishing approach
The template - based publishing approach of the Database Publishing for the automatic generation of documents works similar to the procedure for creating a form letter.
Using a layout program templates ( templates) are designed for the desired pages, which contain placeholders for the elements to be assembled from a database. These are positioned in the form of text or image boxes on Page template.
Advantage of the approach is that such templates can be created very easily and with the usual from the DTP environment tools. Disadvantage is that a post-processing is usually required.
The cost of this operation depends on the complexity of the layout from: Can virtually all sides the same templates are defined, the effort goes to zero. If the sides are, however, unique or soft structurally from each other, the effort is considerable. In this case, the rule -based approach is preferable Layouting.