docbook2{ps,pdf} tips?

[Ramon F Herrera]

I have several SGML files which should be converted to PostScript or
PDF.

When I try the command:

% docbook2ps manual.sgml

the output is a file with the .tex extension.

Why does a program called 'docbook2ps' create a file with the .tex
extension? I am pretty sure I didn't type 'docbook2tex'.

Then, I try to continue, typing:

% texti2pdf manual.tex

and I find myself inside some interactive program with a question mark
staring at me, waiting for me to type some incantation (and 'xyzzy'
does nothing).

Any tips on how to convert those files??

TIA,

-Ramon

[Benjamin Niemann]

Post by Ramon F Herrera
I have several SGML files which should be converted to PostScript or
PDF.
% docbook2ps manual.sgml
the output is a file with the .tex extension.
Why does a program called 'docbook2ps' create a file with the .tex
extension? I am pretty sure I didn't type 'docbook2tex'.

No sure why this happens... docbook2ps probably uses tex as an intermediary
format. Perhaps it's missing a tool to perform the final conversion steps.

Post by Ramon F Herrera
% texti2pdf manual.tex

Do you mean texi2pdf? texi stands for texinfo which is another file format
built upon tex - not what you are looking for.

Post by Ramon F Herrera
and I find myself inside some interactive program with a question mark
staring at me, waiting for me to type some incantation (and 'xyzzy'
does nothing).

That's the tex interpreter expecting texinfo input, but fails.

Post by Ramon F Herrera
Any tips on how to convert those files??

Try 'pdftex manual.tex', perhaps installing it, if not present.
If you have to install it, try docbook2ps again, perhaps it will then be
able to complete its task.

[Peter Flynn]

Post by Ramon F Herrera
I have several SGML files which should be converted to PostScript or
PDF.
% docbook2ps manual.sgml
the output is a file with the .tex extension.
Why does a program called 'docbook2ps' create a file with the .tex
extension? I am pretty sure I didn't type 'docbook2tex'.

Almost certainly because it uses TeX as the typesetter to create PS.

Post by Ramon F Herrera
% texti2pdf manual.tex

Why that particular command? Try either

% latex manual
or
% pdflatex manual

If the document contains internal cross-references, run the program twice to
resolve them.

Post by Ramon F Herrera
and I find myself inside some interactive program with a question mark
staring at me, waiting for me to type some incantation (and 'xyzzy'
does nothing).

What about "plugh" ? :-)

///Peter