HowTo.txt

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Topic Title
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In general, run cmdstart.bat to open a shell that is ready for either python or java/saxon commands.

To install Python
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This will work with either standard or cmdstart.bat shells invoked.

1. Download and run latest Windows Python installer (it will have a .msi extension)
2. Add the python path to the ``%path%`` variable::

     set %path%;C:\Python26

3. Open a command shell and enter ``python \-\-help`` to test the installation.

To convert rst files into docutils XML
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This will work with either standard or cmdstart.bat shells invoked.

1. Copy your rst source files into the docutils directory which you previously placed in the DITA OT root folder.
2. cd into the docutils directory
3. Run the tools/rst2xml.py tool to convert each rst file into well-formed XML::

     C:\DITA-OT1.5.2\docutils>python tools/rst2xml.py \-\-help

Usage
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::

  rst2xml.py [options] [<source> [<destination>]]

To convert well-formed docutils XML files into DITA maps and topics
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This will work only with the cmdstart.bat shell invoked.

1. Navigate your file explorer to the DITA OT directory
2. Double-click on startcmd.bat to open up a prepared DOT shell environment
3. cd into the docutils directory
4. Execute the docutils XML to DITA transform ::

    C:\DITA-OT1.5.2\docutils>java net.sf.saxon.Transform
      -s:result_rst2xml-help.xml
      -xsl:xsl/docutils2map.xsl
      -o:my_result_rst2xml-help.ditamap

    C:\DITA-OT1.5.2\docutils>java net.sf.saxon.Transform -s:result_montecristo.xml -xsl:xsl/docutils2map.xsl -o:my_result_montecristo.ditamap