1.4. Generating outputs

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1.4.1. Overview

The sdf command is used to convert SDF to other formats. The general syntax is:

   sdf [options] file ...

If an extension is not given (and a file is not found with that name), an extension of sdf is assumed.

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1.4.2. Generating HTML

To convert mydoc.sdf to HTML, the command is:

   sdf -2html mydoc

This creates a file called mydoc.html.

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1.4.3. Generating a set of HTML topics

To convert mydoc.sdf to a set of HTML topics, the command is:

   sdf -2topics mydoc

This creates the following files:

• mydoc.html - the table of contents
• mydoc_1.html - the first topic
• mydoc_2.html - the second topic.

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1.4.4. Generating PostScript on Unix

To convert mydoc.sdf to PostScript on Unix, the command is:

   sdf -2ps mydoc

This creates a file called mydoc.ps by:

1. Generating a MIF (Maker Interchange Format) file called mydoc.out.
2. Using the fmbatch program to convert this file to mydoc.out.ps.
3. Renaming mydoc.out.ps to mydoc.ps.
4. Deleting mydoc.out.

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1.4.5. Generating PostScript on Windows

To convert mydoc.sdf to PostScript on Windows, the command is:

   sdf -2mif mydoc

This creates a file called mydoc.mif which can be opened in FrameMaker and printed to a PostScript file.

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1.4.6. Generating PDF

To generate a PDF file, the steps are:

1. Generate a PostScript document (see above)
2. Open the PostScript document using Adobe Distiller.
3. Generate the PDF file.

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Note: The PostScript document generated by SDF includes the information needed by the PDF distiller to generate a table of contents.

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1.4.7. Generating plain text

To convert mydoc.sdf to plain text, the command is:

   sdf -2txt mydoc

This creates a file called mydoc.txt.

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1.4.8. Generating Windows help

To convert mydoc.sdf to Windows help, the command is:

   sdf -2hlp mydoc

This creates the following files:

• mydoc.hpj - a help project file
• mydoc.rtf - an RTF document with embedded help codes

These need to be compiled using a help compiler (e.g. hcp.exe). For example:

   hcp mydoc

This creates a file called mydoc.hlp (provided no errors are encountered).