[comment {-*- tcl -*- doctools manpage}]
[manpage_begin doctools_intro n 1.0]
[copyright {2007 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users.sourceforge.net>}]
[moddesc   {Documentation tools}]
[titledesc {doctools introduction}]
[category  {Documentation tools}]
[description]
[para]

[term doctools] (short for [emph {documentation tools}]) stands for
a set of related, yet different, entities which are working together
for the easy creation and transformation of documentation. These are

[list_begin enumerated]
[enum]

A tcl based language for the semantic markup of text. Markup is
represented by Tcl commands interspersed with the actual text.

[enum]

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.

[enum]

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

[list_end]

[para]

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

[para]

[list_begin enumerated]
[enum]
A [term writer] of documentation has to understand the markup language
itself. A beginner to doctools should read the more informally written
[term {doctools language introduction}] first. Having digested this
the formal [term {doctools language syntax}] specification should
become understandable. A writer experienced with doctools may only
need the [term {doctools language command reference}] from time to
time to refresh her memory.

[para]

While a document is written the [syscmd dtplite] 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.

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

[para]

The main tool is the aforementioned [syscmd dtplite] application
provided by Tcllib. A more powerful one (in terms of options and
ability to configure it) is the [syscmd dtp] application, provided by
Tclapps.

At the bottom level, common to both applications, however sits the
package [package doctools], providing the basic facilities to read and
process files containing text in the doctools format.

[enum]

At last, but not least, [term {plugin writers}] have to understand the
interaction between the [package doctools] package and its plugins, as
described in the [term {doctools plugin API reference}].

[list_end]

[section {RELATED FORMATS}]

doctools does not stand alone, it has two companion formats. These are
called [term docidx] and [term doctoc], and they are for the markup of
[term {keyword indices}], and [term {tables of contents}],
respectively.

They are described in their own sets of documents, starting at the
[term {docidx introduction}] and the [term {doctoc introduction}],
respectively.


[section {BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK}]

This document, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other problems.

Please report such in the category [emph doctools] of the
[uri {http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=12883} {Tcllib SF Trackers}].

Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have.

[see_also doctools_lang_intro]
[see_also doctools_lang_syntax]
[see_also doctools_lang_cmdref]
[see_also doctools_lang_faq]
[see_also doctools]
[see_also doctools_plugin_apiref]
[see_also doctoc_intro]
[see_also docidx_intro]
[keywords markup {semantic markup}]
[manpage_end]