The TPF tool

Introduction to the TPF tool

Documentation generation templates use very precise default text markers, used by the TPF (Text Pre-Formatter) tool to process text generated by the Objecteering documentation generation tool, in order to make the format compatible with different text processors (for example, Postscript, RTF, HTML).

In this way, Objecteering can adapt itself to any DTP tool or text processor provided it accepts a "marked" format.

Illustration of text processing

Figure 35. Producing end documents using the TPF tool

Description of text processing

Text processing consists of four distinct phases:

· Phase 1: Document text can be entered through dialog boxes.

· Phase 2: Tags are introduced into the document text, allowing you to format the text and apply various styles.

· Phase 3: A "format description" file allows you to determine the target text processor.

· Phase 4: The same documentation can be generated for several different formats.

Document format conversion command

The following command allows you to convert the document located in the "input_file" file to the format called "formator_name":

tpf -f output_file -tf formator_name input_file

Note: The result can be on screen, in a file, or used by a processor, according to the "formator_name" format.

Windows XP and the TPF tool

If you are using Windows XP, and if your Objecteering installation path contains blanks (for example, "Program files"), then the Windows XP Service Pack 1 must be installed, in order for the TPF tool to function correctly.