Chapter 4. Exclusions from Core DocBook

In the interest of providing a schema that meets the needs of the Publishing industry, the following considerations were made with regard to the modular approach to the schema and the exclusion of certain core DocBook elements:

Simplified markup

The focus should be on the structural, presentational and semantic markup that meets the needs of Publishers.

No technical elements

The vast majority of Publishers will not need the technical elements from core DocBook. For those titles that require technical markup, the inlines can easily be added as a module to the Publishers schema.

Generated text

With the robust DocBook toolchain, most Publishers will want to automate the creation of a Table of Contents and Index.

The following 149 elements from full DocBook have been excluded from the Publishers schema:

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Note

Because the Publishers schema is written in RelaxNG Compact syntax, it is very easy to add elements back into a customization of the Publishers schema. For example, if the elements in the programming module were needed, it is very simple to use an include statement for the programming.rnc file from the source DocBook distribution.

in favor of generated text, removed tech writing specific, simplify the markup burden

Table 4.1. Excluded DocBook elements
Element NameDefinitionGroupModuleDescription
accel db.accel db.keyboard.inlines keyboard.rnc A graphical user interface (GUI) keyboard shortcut
annotation db.annotation db.ubiq.inlines annotations.rnc An annotation
application db.application db.product.inlines product.rnc The name of a software program
arc db.arc db.extendedlink xlink.rnc An XLink arc in an extendedlink
arg db.arg db.cmdsynopsis programming.rnc An argument in a CmdSynopsis
caution db.caution db.admonition.blocks admonitions.rnc A note of caution
citerefentry db.citerefentry db.bibliography.inlines refentry.rnc A citation to a reference page
classname db.classname db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The name of a class, in the object-oriented programming sense
classsynopsis db.classsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc The syntax summary for a class definition
classsynopsisinfo db.classsynopsisinfo db.classsynopsis programming.rnc Information supplementing the contents of a ClassSynopsis
cmdsynopsis db.cmdsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc A syntax summary for a software command
code db.code db.markup.inlines markup.rnc An inline code fragment
col db.html.col db.html.table.model htmltbl.rnc Specifications for a column in an HTML table
colgroup db.html.colgroup db.html.table.model htmltbl.rnc A group of columns in an HTML table
command db.command db.os.inlines os.rnc The name of an executable program or other software command
computeroutput db.computeroutput db.os.inlines os.rnc Data, generally text, displayed or presented by a computer
constant db.constant db.markup.inlines markup.rnc A programming or system constant
constraint db.constraint db.production ebnf.rnc A constraint in an EBNF production
constraintdef db.constraintdef db.technical.blocks ebnf.rnc The definition of a constraint in an EBNF production
constructorsynopsis db.constructorsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc A syntax summary for a constructor
database db.database db.product.inlines product.rnc The name of a database, or part of a database
destructorsynopsis db.destructorsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc A syntax summary for a destructor
envar db.envar db.os.inlines os.rnc A software environment variable
errorcode db.errorcode db.error.inlines error.rnc An error code
errorname db.errorname db.error.inlines error.rnc An error name
errortext db.errortext db.error.inlines error.rnc An error message.
errortype db.errortype db.error.inlines error.rnc The classification of an error message
exceptionname db.exceptionname db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The name of an exception
extendedlink db.extendedlink db.info.elements xlink.rnc An XLink extended link
fieldsynopsis db.fieldsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc The name of a field in a class definition
filename db.filename db.os.inlines os.rnc The name of a file
funcdef db.funcdef db.funcprototype programming.rnc A function (subroutine) name and its return type
funcparams db.funcparams db.paramdef programming.rnc Parameters for a function referenced through a function pointer in a synopsis
funcprototype db.funcprototype db.funcsynopsis programming.rnc The prototype of a function
funcsynopsis db.funcsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc The syntax summary for a function definition
funcsynopsisinfo db.funcsynopsisinfo db.funcsynopsis programming.rnc Information supplementing the FuncDefs of a FuncSynopsis
function db.function db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The name of a function or subroutine, as in a programming language
group db.group db.cmdsynopsis programming.rnc A group of elements in a CmdSynopsis
guibutton db.guibutton db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The text on a button in a GUI
guiicon db.guiicon db.gui.inlines gui.rnc Graphic and/or text appearing as a icon in a GUI
guilabel db.guilabel db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The text of a label in a GUI
guimenu db.guimenu db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The name of a menu in a GUI
guimenuitem db.guimenuitem db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The name of a terminal menu item in a GUI
guisubmenu db.guisubmenu db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The name of a submenu in a GUI
hardware db.hardware db.product.inlines product.rnc A physical part of a computer system
important db.important db.admonition.blocks admonitions.rnc An admonition set off from the text
indexdiv db.indexdiv db.index index.rnc A division in an index
indexentry db.indexentry db.index index.rnc An entry in an index
initializer db.initializer db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The initializer for a FieldSynopsis
interfacename db.interfacename db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The name of an interface
keycap db.keycap db.keyboard.inlines keyboard.rnc The text printed on a key on a keyboard
keycode db.keycode db.keyboard.inlines keyboard.rnc The internal, frequently numeric, identifier for a key on a keyboard
keycombo db.keycombo db.keyboard.inlines keyboard.rnc A combination of input actions
keysym db.keysym db.keyboard.inlines keyboard.rnc The symbolic name of a key on a keyboard
lhs db.lhs db.production ebnf.rnc The left-hand side of an EBNF production
locator db.locator db.extendedlink xlink.rnc An XLink locator in an extendedlink
manvolnum db.manvolnum db.citerefentry refentry.rnc A reference volume number
markup db.markup db.markup.inlines markup.rnc A string of formatting markup in text that is to be represented literally
lineannotation db.lineannotation db.verbatim.inlines programming.rnc A comment on a line in a verbatim listing
menuchoice db.menuchoice db.gui.inlines gui.rnc A selection or series of selections from a menu
methodname db.methodname db.programming.inlines programming.rnc The name of a method
methodparam db.methodparam db.constructorsynopsis programming.rnc Parameters to a method
methodsynopsis db.methodsynopsis db.synopsis.blocks programming.rnc A syntax summary for a method
modifier db.modifier db.programming.inlines programming.rnc Modifiers in a synopsis
mousebutton db.mousebutton db.gui.inlines gui.rnc The conventional name of a mouse button
msg db.msg db.msgentry msgset.rnc A message in a message set
msgaud db.msgaud db.msginfo msgset.rnc The audience to which a message in a message set is relevant
msgentry db.msgentry db.msgset msgset.rnc A wrapper for an entry in a message set
msgexplan db.msgexplan db.msgentry msgset.rnc Explanatory material relating to a message in a message set
msginfo db.msginfo db.msgentry msgset.rnc Information about a message in a message set
msglevel db.msglevel db.msginfo msgset.rnc The level of importance or severity of a message in a message set
msgmain db.msgmain db.msg msgset.rnc The primary component of a message in a message set
msgorig db.msgorig db.msginfo msgset.rnc The origin of a message in a message set
msgrel db.msgrel db.msg msgset.rnc A related component of a message in a message set
msgset db.msgset db.technical.blocks msgset.rnc A detailed set of messages, usually error messages
msgsub db.msgsub db.msg msgset.rnc A subcomponent of a message in a message set
msgtext db.msgtext db.simplemsgentry msgset.rnc The actual text of a message component in a message set
nonterminal db.nonterminal db.technical.inlines ebnf.rnc A non-terminal in an EBNF production
ooclass db.ooclass db.oo.inlines programming.rnc A class in an object-oriented programming language
ooexception db.ooexception db.oo.inlines programming.rnc An exception in an object-oriented programming language
oointerface db.oointerface db.oo.inlines programming.rnc An interface in an object-oriented programming language
option db.option db.technical.inlines technical.rnc An option for a software command
package db.package db.technical.inlines technical.rnc A software or application package
paramdef db.paramdef db.funcprototype programming.rnc Information about a function parameter in a programming language
parameter db.parameter db.technical.inlines programming.rnc A value or a symbolic reference to a value
primaryie db.primaryie db.indexentry index.rnc A primary term in an index entry, not in the text
production db.production db.productionset ebnf.rnc A production in a set of EBNF productions
productionrecap db.productionrecap db.productionset ebnf.rnc A cross-reference to an EBNF production
productionset db.productionset db.technical.blocks ebnf.rnc A set of EBNF productions
programlisting db.programlisting db.verbatim.blocks programming.rnc A literal listing of all or part of a program
programlistingco db.programlistingco db.verbatim.blocks callouts.rnc A program listing with associated areas used in callouts
prompt db.prompt db.os.inlines os.rnc A character or string indicating the start of an input field in a computer display
property db.property db.technical.inlines technical.rnc A unit of data associated with some part of a computer system
refclass db.refclass db.refnamediv refentry.rnc The scope or other indication of applicability of a reference entry
refdescriptor db.refdescriptor db.refnamediv refentry.rnc A description of the topic of a reference page
refentry db.refentry db.toplevel.sections refentry.rnc A reference page (originally a UNIX man-style reference page)
refentrytitle db.refentrytitle db.citerefentry refentry.rnc The title of a reference page
reference db.reference db.divisions refentry.rnc A collection of reference entries
refmeta db.refmeta db.refentry refentry.rnc Meta-information for a reference entry
refmiscinfo db.refmiscinfo db.refmeta refentry.rnc Meta-information for a reference entry other than the title and volume number
refname db.refname db.refnamediv refentry.rnc The name of (one of) the subject(s) of a reference page
refnamediv db.refnamediv db.refentry refentry.rnc The name, purpose, and classification of a reference page
refpurpose db.refpurpose db.refnamediv refentry.rnc A short (one sentence) synopsis of the topic of a reference page
refsect1 db.refsect1 db.toplevel.sections refsect1.rnc A major subsection of a reference entry
refsect2 db.refsect2 db.secondlevel.refsection refsect1.rnc A subsection of a refsect1
refsect3 db.refsect3 db.refsect2.sections refsect1.rnc A subsection of a refsect2
refsection db.refsection db.toplevel.refsection refentry.rnc A recursive section in a refentry
refsynopsisdiv db.refsynopsisdiv db.refentry refentry.rnc A syntactic synopsis of the subject of the reference page
replaceable replaceable db.technical.inlines technical.rnc
returnvalue db.returnvalue db.programming.inlines programming.rnc
rhs db.rhs db.production ebnf.rnc
sbr db.sbr programming.rnc
screen db.screen technical.rnc Text that a user sees or might see on a computer screen
screenco db.screenco db.verbatim.blocks callouts.rnc A screen with associated areas used in callouts
screenshot db.screenshot technical.rnc A representation of what the user sees or might see on a computer screen
sect1 db.sect1 db.toplevel.sections sect1.rnc A top-level section of the document
sect2 db.sect2 db.sect1.sections sect1.rnc A subsection within a Sect1
sect3 db.sect3 db.sect2.sections sect1.rnc A subsection within a Sect2
sect4 db.sect4 db.sect3.sections sect1.rnc A subsection within a Sect3
sect5 db.sect5 db.sect4.sections sect1.rnc A subsection within a Sect4
seealsoie seealsoie index.rnc A "See also" ] " entry in an index, rather than in the text
seeie seeie index.rnc A "See" entry in an index, rather than in the text
seg db.seg markup.rnc An element of a list item in a segmented list
seglistitem db.seglistitem markup.rnc A list item in a segmented list
segmentedlist db.segmentedlist markup.rnc A segmented list, a list of sets of elements
segtitle db.segtitle markup.rnc The title of an element of a list item in a segmented list
shortcut db.shortcut keyboard.rnc
simplemsgentry db.simplemsgentry db.msgset msgset.rnc
symbol symbol db.markup.inlines markup.rnc A name that is replaced by a value before processing
synopfragment db.synopfragment programming.rnc
synopfragmentref db.synopfragmentref programming.rnc
synopsis db.synopsis programming.rnc A general-purpose element for representing the syntax of commands or functions
systemitem db.systemitem db.technical.inlines technical.rnc
tag db.tag db.markup.inlines markup.rnc A component of XML (or SGML) markup
td db.html.informaltable htmltbl.rnc
tertiaryie tertiaryie index.rnc
th db.html.informaltable htmltbl.rnc
tip tip admonitions.rnc
tocdiv toc.rnc A division in a table of contents
tocentry toc.rnc A component title in a table of contents
token db.token db.markup.inlines markup.rnc A unit of information
tr db.html.informaltable htmltbl.rnc
type db.type db.programming.inlines programming.rnc
userinput db.userinput db.os.inlines os.rnc
varargs varargs programming.rnc
varname varname db.programming.inlines programming.rnc
void db.void programming.rnc
warning db.warning admonitions.rnc