---
name: "sgmltools"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sgmltools-lite"
version: "3.0.3.0.cvs.20010909-20"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sgmltools"
---

# sgmltools(1)

process sgml files.

## NAME

sgmltools - process sgml files.

## SYNOPSIS

**sgmltools** \[-b backend\] \[-d\] \[-v\] \[-V\] \[-h\] \[-l\] \[-s dsssl\_spec\] \[-j jadeopt\] \[--backend={onehtml,html,ps,dvi,rtf,txt,ld2db,jadetex,pdb,lynx,w3m}\] \[--debug\]  \[--verbose\]  \[--dsssl-spec=dsssl\_spec\] \[--jade-opt=jadeopt\] \[--version\] \[--help\] \[--license\]

## DESCRIPTION

**sgmltools** is the central driver of SGMLtools. You can use it to convert SGML input files to various formats, as indicated by the  *--backend* switch.

### OPTIONS

- *-b, --backend*

  Select the backend to use. Currently, there are five different backends to choose from.  **ps** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into PostScript. **dvi** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into DVI. **rtf** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into RTF. **onehtml** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into a single HTML; the resulting file will be put in the current directory (default). **html** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into HTML; the resulting files will be put in a subdirectory. **txt** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into ASCII. Note that this backend actually uses the w3m (preferred) or lynx (if w3m not found) backends. **ld2db** expects a LinuxDoc-SGML file and will convert it into DocBook SGML. **jadetex** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into JadeTeX input. Only use this if you know what you're doing. **pdb** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into the iSilo format used on Palm devices. **w3m** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into ASCII. w3m does a better job of exporting HTML as ASCII text than Lynx, since w3m understands tables. One should normally use the txt backend and let sgmltools decide which ASCII  exporter is available. **lynx** expects a DocBook SGML file and will convert it into ASCII. One should normally use the txt backend and let sgmltools decide which ASCII exporter is available.

- *-d, --debug*

  Enable debugging. All temporary files will be left as is and possibly extra information on the processing steps is printed to stderr.

- *-v, --verbose*

  Be verbose. Information on commands executed, etcetera, will be printed to stdout.

- *-s, --dsssl-spec*

  Specify the DSSSL stylesheet to apply (see STYLESHEETS, below).

- *-j, --jade-opt*

  Pass additional options directly to Jade.

- *-h, --help*

  Print a usage message on standard output and exit successfully (tbd).

- *-V, --version*

  Print version information on standard output then exit successfully (tbd).

- *-l, --license*

  Print license information

## STYLESHEETS

The DSSSL specification may be either a filename, a public identifier or a DSSSL alias (resolved via one of the alias files **/etc/sgml/aliases** and **~/.sgmlaliases** to either a filename or a public identifier).

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

- **TMPDIR**

  Temporary directory. If it is on a local filesystem, a lot of copying will be avoided. Furthermore, setting this will prevent SGMLtools from using /tmp and thus will prevent people trying to make use of race conditions.

- **SGML\_CATALOG\_FILES**

  The SGML Open catalog files to use for resolving public identifiers into system identifiers.

## BUGS

This is an early developer release, so don't expect it to behave in any useful way. It won't make coffee or tea.

## SOURCES

### sgmltools-lite

http://sgmltools-lite.sourceforge.net

### w3m

http://ei5nazha.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp/~aito/w3m/eng

### iSilo Tools

iSilo Palm readers and Linux encoders are available from:

http://www.isilo.com

### DocBook Documentation

The online version of 'DocBook: The Definitive Guide' can be found at:

http://www.docbook.org

### OpenJade

http://openjade.sourceforge.net

## AUTHOR

Copyright (c)2000, Cees A. de Groot \<cg@sgmltools.org\>.