Improving Formatting Documents by Coupling Formatting Systems

Abstract : In this paper, we present a framework for coupling an existing formatting system such as SMIL or Madeus with a formatting control system called XEF. This framework allows the coupling process to be performed at two levels: 1) the language level, which is concerned with how to link the control features of XEF and the elements of an existing formatting system, and 2) the formatter level, which deals with the creation of a new formatter by formatter composition. The overall objective is to provide more powerful and flexible formatting services to cover new needs such as adaptive and/or generated presentations.