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== The Problem ==
Several issues arise when a TeX document is to be constructed collaboratively.
* Your partner(s) may not be used to TeX (ConTeXt) markup.
* Marking up editorial comments is difficult (for instance in WYSIWIG softwaresuch as WORD, edits can be highlighted by switching on "Track changes")
* One needs to have the same document in different formats (PDF, HTML, DOC etc)
== A Solution ==
There are several different ways to address each of these issues. For instance
* Have the partner construct the document in WYSIWIG software and have them import it to OpenOffice and then export it to TeX.
* Have the partner edit the source code
* Use third party software to convert between formats (PDF to Word for instance).
I would like to offer a different path towards solving these issues, especially with the aim of involving non-TeX folks in the process. Essentially the approach is to use a web-based Wiki to construct parts of the document and then use Ruby
to translate HTML syntax to ConTeXt syntax. The advantages I can think of are:
* Wiki syntax is easy to learn
* People can join the effort from anywhere in the world provided they have an internet connection.
* Editing the document is relatively easy.
* Folks can visualize the structure of their document in the HTML version.
* Folks who want to convert the document into WORD just needs to import the HTMLversion.
Now, without much ado, to the details ...
== Using Wiki software for collaborative document preparation ==
Any Wiki software may just be fine. In this document I will use a new Ruby Rails based wiki software known as [http://informl.folklogic.net/ Informl] to illustrate key ideas. One attractive aspect of Informl for my colleagues who are used to WYSIWIG software is that while in edit mode, a real-time preview is available
in a twin-window.
[[Image:Wiki_prev.jpg]]
== Translating HTML into ConTeXt using Ruby ==
* [[Navigating to HTML page]]
* [[Setting up ConTeXt document]]
* [[Click and navigate to chapters and sections]]
* [[HTML to ConTeXt]]
** [[Removing unwanted markup]]
** [[Simple replacements]]
** [[Translating Figure markup]]
** [[Translating Table markup]]
** [[The rest of the filters]]
