doctoc_intro(n) 						Documentation tools						   doctoc_intro(n)

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NAME

       doctoc_intro - doctoc introduction

DESCRIPTION

       doctoc (short for documentation tables of contents) stands for a set of related, yet different, entities which are working together for the
       easy creation and transformation of tables of contents for documentation. These are

       [1]    A tcl based language for the semantic markup of a table of contents. Markup is represented by Tcl commands.

       [2]    A package providing the ability to read and transform texts written in that markup language. It is important to note that the actual
	      transformation of the input text is delegated to plugins.

       [3]    An API describing the interface between the package above and a plugin.

       Which of the more detailed documents are relevant to the reader of this introduction depends on their role in the documentation process.

       [1]    A writer of documentation has to understand the markup language itself. A beginner to doctoc should read the more informally written
	      doctoc language introduction first. Having digested this the formal doctoc language syntax specification should  become  understand-
	      able. A writer experienced with doctoc may only need the doctoc language command reference from time to time to refresh her memory.

	      While  a	document  is  written the dtp application can be used to validate it, and after completion it also performs the conversion
	      into the chosen system of visual markup, be it *roff, HTML, plain text, wiki, etc. The simpler dtplite  application  makes  internal
	      use of doctoc when handling directories of documentation, automatically generating a proper table of contents for them.

       [2]    A processor of documentation written in the doctoc markup language has to know which tools are available for use.

	      The  main tool is the aforementioned dtp application provided by Tcllib. The simpler dtplite does not expose doctoc to the user.	At
	      the bottom level, common to both applications, however sits the package doctoools::toc, providing the basic facilities to  read  and
	      process files containing text in the doctoc format.

       [3]    At  last,  but  not  least,  plugin writers have to understand the interaction between the doctools::toc package and its plugins, as
	      described in the doctoc plugin API reference.

RELATED FORMATS

       doctoc does not stand alone, it has two companion formats. These are called docidx and doctools, and they are for  the  markup  of  keyword
       indices,  and  general documentation, respectively.  They are described in their own sets of documents, starting at the docidx introduction
       and the doctools introduction, respectively.

BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK
       This document, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other problems.  Please report such in the category doctools of  the  Tcllib  SF  Trackers
       [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=12883].  Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have.

SEE ALSO

       docidx_intro,   doctoc_lang_cmdref,  doctoc_lang_faq,  doctoc_lang_intro,  doctoc_lang_syntax,  doctoc_plugin_apiref,  doctools::toc,  doc-
       tools_intro

KEYWORDS

       markup, semantic markup, table of contents, toc

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2007 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users.sourceforge.net>

doctools								1.0							   doctoc_intro(n)