5 XProc Libraries

5.1.1 Step: xdoc:markdown-to-docbook

Converts the contents of xdoc:MARKDOWN elements into DocBook.

This pipeline checks the incoming XML for xdoc:MARKDOWN elements. The contents of these elements is assumed to contain Markdown. The pipeline tries to convert this into DocBook. The xdoc:MARKDOWN element is removed/unwrapped.

The following rules apply:

• The contents of an xdoc:MARKDOWN element is stringified (so any child elements are lost).

• The resulting text can be indented, using space characters only (no tabs!). The non-empty line with the minimum indent is assumed to be its left margin.

• Only simple Markdown is supported. Specifically:

  • Inline markup for emphasis, bold, code, etc.

  • Links. A link target starting with a % is handled as an internal link (the @xml:id of something in the encompassing DocBook).

  • Code blocks (using three consecutive back-ticks)

  • Headers (these are all converted into the same DocBook bridgehead elements)

• Specifically not supported (yet?) are tables.

If you add an header-only="true" attribute to the xdoc:MARKDOWN element, only the first paragraph will be output.