PDF Published Status: Stage Override In Metanorma

by Omar Yusuf 50 views

Hey guys,

I wanted to bring up a discussion about how Metanorma handles the published status of documents, particularly concerning stage overrides. This might not affect everyone directly, but it's good to be on the same page, so let's dive in!

The Issue: Determining Published Status

Previously, whether a document was considered "published" was determined by its status and stage, and this logic was specific to each Metanorma flavor. This determination is crucial because it affects how certain parts of the boilerplate are rendered in Isodoc. To address this, I need a more consistent way to represent this information as metadata.unpublished within Isodoc.

The challenge we faced was the need to customize this determination without hardcoding it within each flavor. This is where the stage override comes in.

The Solution: stage-published Override

To solve this, I'm introducing a new approach using the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. This element is a boolean flag that will allow us to explicitly define whether a specific stage should be considered "published" or not. This gives us the flexibility to configure this behavior through settings rather than relying on code changes.

This change was implemented as part of resolving an issue in the Metanorma CSA flavor (https://github.com/metanorma/metanorma-csa/issues/327). The key idea here is to decouple the published status determination from the specific flavor logic and make it configurable.

Why This Matters

Think of it this way: Imagine you're working on a document that's in a draft stage, but for your specific use case, you need it to be treated as "published" for certain rendering purposes. With this override, you can simply set the stage-published flag to true for that stage, and Metanorma will handle it accordingly. No more digging into the code to make these adjustments!

Impact on PDF XSLTs

Now, here's where I need your input. If the PDF XSLTs currently determine the published status based on the document's stage, they will need to be updated to respect the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published override. This ensures that the PDF output accurately reflects the intended published status.

However, if PDF XSLTs don't currently rely on the stage to determine published status, then you can safely disregard this update. To ensure consistency, if PDF XSLTs do use this information, I propose that we consistently populate metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published so that it serves as the single source of truth for this determination. This will make things much easier to manage and understand in the long run.

The Key Question

So, the big question for you guys working on PDF XSLTs is: Do your stylesheets rely on the document's stage to determine its published status?

If the answer is yes, then we'll need to coordinate on updating them to use the stage-published override. If the answer is no, then we're all good!

Action Needed

Could you please let me know whether your PDF XSLTs use the document stage to determine published status? This will help me ensure that we have a smooth transition and that everyone is on the same page. Your feedback is super valuable here!

To reiterate, the main point is to shift the determination of published status from flavor-specific code to a configurable setting. This enhances flexibility and maintainability. The stage-published flag acts as the central point for this decision, ensuring consistency across different Metanorma flavors and outputs.

The benefits of this approach are:

  • Flexibility: Easily configure published status for different stages.
  • Consistency: One source of truth for published status determination.
  • Maintainability: Reduces the need for flavor-specific code changes.

In Summary

I'm overriding the flavor-specific determination of a document's published status using the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. If your PDF XSLTs rely on the document's stage to make this determination, you'll need to update them to use this override. Please let me know either way so we can ensure a smooth transition!

This change is all about making Metanorma more flexible and easier to manage. By centralizing the published status determination, we can avoid inconsistencies and reduce the need for custom code in each flavor. Your input is crucial to ensure that this change works seamlessly across all Metanorma outputs.

So, please take a moment to check your PDF XSLTs and let me know if they are affected. This will help us keep Metanorma running smoothly and efficiently.

Thanks a bunch for your time and attention to this! Let's keep the conversation flowing and make Metanorma even better together.

Deeper Dive: The Technical Details

For those who want a more granular understanding, let's delve into the technical aspects and how this change impacts the Metanorma pipeline.

The Role of metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published

The metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element is a boolean flag embedded within the semantic metadata of the Isodoc XML. It acts as a definitive indicator of whether a particular stage should be considered as "published" or not. This flag overrides any default behavior that might be present in the flavor-specific code.

How It Works

  1. Configuration: The value of stage-published is typically set through a configuration file or command-line argument when invoking Metanorma.
  2. Semantic Processing: During the semantic processing phase, Metanorma reads this configuration and populates the stage-published element in the Isodoc XML.
  3. XSLT Transformation: When generating outputs like PDF, the XSLT stylesheets can then check the value of stage-published to determine whether to render certain parts of the boilerplate or apply specific formatting rules.

Impact on PDF Generation

The most significant impact is on the PDF generation process, particularly if the XSLT stylesheets currently rely on the stage of the document to decide whether it's considered "published." In such cases, these stylesheets need to be updated to consult the stage-published flag.

Example Scenario

Consider a scenario where a document is in the "Draft" stage, but the organization wants it to be treated as "published" for internal review purposes. By setting stage-published to true for the "Draft" stage, the PDF output will include all the elements and formatting that are typically associated with a published document.

Ensuring Consistency

To ensure consistency across all outputs, it's crucial that the stage-published flag is the single source of truth for determining published status. This means that if the PDF XSLTs currently use any other method to make this determination, they should be updated to rely solely on stage-published.

Best Practices

  • Centralize Configuration: Define the stage-published settings in a central configuration file that can be easily managed and versioned.
  • Document Settings: Clearly document the stage-published settings for each stage to ensure transparency and avoid confusion.
  • Test Thoroughly: After making changes to the XSLT stylesheets, thoroughly test the PDF output to verify that the published status is being correctly determined.

Benefits of a Unified Approach

The move to a unified approach using stage-published offers several key advantages:

  • Reduced Complexity: Simplifies the logic for determining published status.
  • Improved Maintainability: Makes it easier to update and maintain the Metanorma pipeline.
  • Increased Flexibility: Provides more flexibility in configuring the published status of documents.

Conclusion

By introducing the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element, we are taking a significant step towards making Metanorma more flexible, consistent, and maintainable. This change allows us to decouple the determination of published status from flavor-specific code and configure it through settings. For those working on PDF XSLTs, it's crucial to check whether your stylesheets rely on the document's stage to determine published status and, if so, update them to use the stage-published flag. Your feedback and collaboration are essential to ensure a smooth transition and make Metanorma even better.

Final Thoughts: Moving Forward Together

This discussion highlights the importance of collaboration and clear communication within the Metanorma community. By openly discussing changes and their potential impact, we can ensure that Metanorma continues to evolve in a way that meets the needs of all its users.

The stage-published override is a powerful tool for customizing the behavior of Metanorma, but it's essential to use it responsibly and consistently. By following the best practices outlined above, we can ensure that this feature enhances the flexibility of Metanorma without introducing unnecessary complexity.

I encourage everyone to continue sharing their thoughts and experiences as we move forward. Together, we can make Metanorma the best possible platform for creating and publishing standards documents.