DocBook is a collection of XML standards and tools for technical publishing. The DocBook document type definition (DTD) was developed during the 1990s to provide an application-independent method for creating computer documentation. But the basic 'book' features of DocBook can be used for other kinds of content, so it has been adapted to many purposes. DocBook is often compared against DITA, a similar but newer XML schema.
#31156
DocBook and DITA both have their places. They're both excellent for single sourcing. DocBook is better for what I call monolithic single sourcing, while DITA is better suited for discrete single sourcing.
Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2008). Articles>Information Design>DocBook>DITA
#31157
Choosing an XML Schema: DocBook or DITA?
If you follow the latest trends or have been to a conference recently, you may find the idea of choosing an XML schema puzzling. Isn't the question really, 'How should I customize DITA to do what I want'? While there are many good reasons to choose DITA, it's not the only schema in town.
Hamilton, Richard. Content Wrangler, The (2008). Articles>Information Design>DocBook>DITA
#26309
Using DocBook to Generate WebHelp
A brief tutorial on creating cross-platform WebHelp (similar to that produced by RoboHelp) using DocBook.
Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2004). Articles>Documentation>Help>DocBook
#29287
If you line DocBook and DITA up, I think DITA can point to four technical differences that are arguably features in its favor.
Walsh, Norman. DITA for DocBook. Articles>Information Design>DocBook>DITA
#32037
DITA, DocBook and the Art of the Document
Both the DITA and the DocBook specification are quite alive and well in organizations, and each is evolving into its own distinct application niches, with DITA looking to be turning into the default standard for large scale enterprises, while DocBook works more effectively at the small to intermediate level. What’s perhaps more interesting is the Microsoft Word, even with support for XML as provided by OOXML, is not making as much of an inroad in the structured document market, in great part because it is fairly difficult to constrain people’s use of the word-processing program to a limited, finite subset of potential styles.
Cagle, Kurt. XML.com (2008). Academic>Documentation>DocBook>DITA
#18546
The DocBook document type definition (DTD) was developed during the 1990s to provide an application independent method for creating computer documentation. Versions of the DocBook DTD have been created for both SGML and XML. You can create an embedded index in DocBook using index elements.
Brown, Fred. Allegro Time! (2001). Articles>Indexing>XML>DocBook
#26372
DocBook provides a system for writing structured documents using SGML or XML. It is particularly well-suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software, though it is by no means limited to them.
#30753
A DocBook Basics and References
DocBook is an easy-to-understand and widely used DTD. Dozens of organizations use DocBook for millions of pages of documentation, in various print and online formats, worldwide.
Walsh, Norman. dpawson.co.uk (2004). Books>Information Design>XML>DocBook
#26373
This howto attempts to clear the fog and mystery surrounding the DocBook markup system and the tools that go with it. It is aimed at authors of technical documentation for open-source projects hosted on Linux, but should be useful for people composing other kinds on other Unixes as well.
Raymond, Eric S. tldp.org. Articles>Documentation>XML>DocBook
#26195
DocBook Element Quick Reference Card 
A one-page reference card for DocBook elements.
dpawson.co.uk (2004). Reference>Style Guides>Documentation>DocBook
#31161
Having new DocBook standards in place may do little to push adoption. An important factor in driving user adoption is the availability of software that implements the standard. It would be interesting to see whether big software companies would jump on the bandwagon...Unless the open-source community comes to the rescue!
Talbot, Fabrice. LiveTechDocs (2008). Articles>Documentation>XML>DocBook
#26193
Docbook Frequently Asked Questions
This is a collation of some Frequently Asked questions regarding Docbook. The initial focus will be on the XML version of the DTD, and the XSLT based stylesheets.
dpawson.co.uk (2005). Articles>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#25442
DocBook is an XML vocabulary that is particularly well suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software.
SourceForge (2003). Resources>Documentation>Open Source>DocBook
#25443
DocBook is officially available as a [WWW] Document Type Definition (DTD) for both XML and SGML. It is unofficially available in other forms as well.
Docbook.org (2003). Resources>Documentation>XML>DocBook
#26192
These are XSL stylesheets for the DocBook DTD and its derivatives (Simplified DocBook, etc.) to generate PDF/print documents or Web/HTML content.
SourceForge (2005). Resources>Documentation>XSL>DocBook
#26196
DocBook XSL: The Complete Guide
DocBook is a collection of standards and tools for technical publishing. DocBook was originally created by a consortium of software companies as a standard for computer documentation. But the basic 'book' features of DocBook can be used for other kinds of content, so it has been adapted to many purposes.
Stayton, Bob. Sagehill (2005). Books>Documentation>XSL>DocBook
#26307
DocBook: An Introduction for Technical Writers
A set of slides that gives a brief introduction to DocBook and why it is useful for technical writers. Also available in PDF format.
Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2002). Presentations>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#26191
This book is designed to be the clear, concise, normative reference to the DocBook DTD. This book is the official documentation for the DocBook DTD.
Walsh, Norman and Leonard Muellner. Docbook.org (2003). Books>Documentation>XML>DocBook
#26197
A tutorial on writing documentation that will be used in a particular project.
Galassi, Mark. Galassi.org (1998). Articles>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#27740
Getting Started with the DocBook XML Dialect
Gets you started with DocBook, an SGML/XML dialect that describes the content of technical articles and other documents. David discusses the benefits of using DocBook, and then describes how to plan and modularize a large document conversion project.
Mertz, David. IBM (2000). Articles>Documentation>XML>DocBook
#24653
LaTeX and DocBook (and for that matter any manner of XML editors), which could be considered excellent single-sourcing tools, are almost never discussed.
Meyerding, Henry. KeyContent.org (2004). Articles>Content Management>LaTeX>DocBook
#26194
Structured documentation is semantic, rather than presentational. Components have identifiable structure. HTML and Word are somewhat structured. DocBook is strictly structured.
Walsh, Norman. NWalsh.org (2001). Presentations>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#26308
DocBook is a powerful tool for creating and maintaining documentation. However, there are a number of factors you should consider before you move your documentation to DocBook. This article discusses reasons for and against making the switch to DocBook.
Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (2002). Articles>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#26306
There are a number of tools available for transforming DocBook XML documents to various formats. All of these tools have strengths, as well as some noticeable weaknesses and drawbacks. This article looks at the benefits of using the XMLmind FO Converter, a graphical, highly configurable, and cross-platform application designed to transform DocBook XML files to any supported output format.
Nesbitt, Scott. InformIT.com (2005). Articles>Documentation>Standards>DocBook
#26310
Using XML for Document Authoring and Management
An introduction to XML (Extensible Markup Language) and how technical writers can use it to create and manage their documentation.
Nesbitt, Scott. DMN Communications (2004). Articles>Documentation>Help>DocBook
