XSLT for Shadow Desktop

Version 2.1 ©Alex Fung, December 2003.

Shadow Desktop XSLT uses new web technologies. The minimum browser requirement is Internet Explorer 5.0. Please upgrade your browser before using.

If you like this software, consider sending me a donation!

What XSLT does

XSLT is eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations. It perform transformations on XML, in this case, to HTML.

This set of files transforms the XML file generated by the Shadow Destop into pretty HTML. The hierarchical structure can be expanded and collapsed like in Shadow Plan.

Installation

1. Place the following files in a directory:
   • XML file generated by the Shadow Destop conduit (a sample XML is included)
   • One or both of the following files included in this zip archive (open the htm file to initiate XML processing):
     • ShadP-xslt.htm (xml file name hardcoded)
     • ShadP-xslt-choose.htm (xml file name supplied by you at run time)
   • The following files included in this zip archive (needed by the two htm files above):
     • ShadP-xslt.xsl
     • ShadP-xslt.css
     • outline.js
     • breaknote.js
2. The remaining XML files are sample files for demonstrating what this package is doing.

Transforming XML

Method 1: hard code file name

First, you create the XML for your list using Shadow Desktop. Then, edit “ShadP-xslt.htm” The 14^th line reads:

  var xmlfn="ShadP-Business Plan.XML"; // <--enter the name of your XML file from Shadow Desktop

It sets the name of the XML file created by Shadow Desktop. Change the string to the name of your XML file. Finally, open sp-xslt.htm using Internet Explorer.

Method 2: choose file name

If you frequently work with multiple files, it will be easier if you use the “ShadP-xslt-choose.htm”. Open the page. It has two options.

Under “Browse for input XML file”, you can click the browse button to use a standard file open dialogue to navigate and locate the XML file you want. Click the “Load XML file” button to start processing the selected XML file.

Under “Type name of input XML file”, you can directly type the full path name of the XML file. Click the “Load XML file” button there to start processing the selected XML file.

In either case, you should leave the “Transformation XSL” box unchanged, unless you want to use another XSLT file to process the XML file.

The transformed HTML

Each item is displayed on a line in navy blue. Notes are displayed in black under the item title.

If an item has child items, the item title is displayed with a trailing triangle. By default, child items are hidden. Click the title line to show or hide the children.

Each title is displayed with a leading box. It carries a check mark if the item is marked completed.

At the top are three commands you can issue. The checkbox controls whether you want to hide the checked items. The first push button expands (shows) all collapsed (hidden) child items, while the second push button collapses (hides) all the child items.

Adjusting the styles

The display style is controlled by the “ShadP-xslt.css”. Refer to CSS references (eg on MSDN) for details. The stylesheet items are described below:

• “.title” is the class for all titles. You may change all the attributes, but the color should stay navy, because the outline.js always reset them to navy.
• “.title1”, “.title2” etc is the class for each level of titles. If a title is child of nobody, it is level 1 and it uses “.title1” (in addition to “.title”). If a title is child of a level 1 title, it is level 2 and it uses “.title2” (in addition to “.title”). If you have more than 4 levels, just add extra “.titlenn” lines as required.
• “.note” defines the style of the notes you attached to the item. Adjust it to suit your taste.
• “.marker” formats the 4 and 6 after a title with child items. Do not change it.

System Requirement

To use XSLT, you need the followings on your system.

• MSXML 2.0 or above (best with MSXML 4.0)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or above
• Windows 95 or above.
• Windings and Webdings font installed (nearly always available in Windows).

Most Windows products install MSXML for you, so you probably already have one. However, your existing version may be very old. Go to this page to test your XML installation.

If you do not have MSXML installed, or the installed version is old, either dig it up from www.microsoft.com or go to this page to install a new one.

Special Characters

As of version 2.8.1, the Shadow Plan conduit is not yet capable of handling some special characters. A few characters can safely be used (I haven't exhaustively tested every character): « (/171), » (/187), ¿ (/191), ¡ (/161) and ¢ (/162). Others, like † (/134), ‡ (/135) and … (/133), are translated into invisible characters on Windows. Worse, 4 symbols will end up in an invalid XML file: ‘ (/145), ’ (/146), “ (/147) and ” (/148). When your list has any of these 4 characters, the XML file generated by the conduit has an invalid syntax. In such case, no XSLT will be able to operate on them.

Shadow Plan Desktop can tolerate these characters, but cannot display them. I have not fully tested zDesk, but seems these characters will stop zDesk from opening the list.

Copyright Notice

Shadow Plan is a product from Jeff Mitchell. Head over to Code Jedi for updates, more details, screenshots and support.

The files in this archive are products of Alex Fung (alexfung1980 at hotmail dot com). You are permitted to copy the files to your computers for use with Shadow Desktop, as long as all the files stay together and you do not modify the files except according to the instructions above. For details, refer to the full copyright notice below.

Full Copyright Notice

No part of these files may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system (including but not limited to a human brain), or translated into any other language in any form by any means without the written permission of the author.

If you have not already purchased a license for these pages, you are granted a limited license (see the shareware license agreement below) to use them on a 100-year trial basis for the purpose of determining whether it is suitable for your needs, provided you read the whole of this copyright notice and the accompanied license agreement. The use outside the initial trial period by any person, business, corporation, government agency, or any other entity is strictly prohibited. If during or at the end of that period you decide that you would like to continue using it, please register.

If you decide to continue beyond the trial period, you are obligated to register.

Shareware License Agreement

By browsing any of these pages, you agree to abide by all the terms and conditions of the following contract, as well as the Geneva Convention and the U.N. Charter and the Secret Membership Oath of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks and such other terms and conditions, real and imaginary, as the Author shall deem necessary and appropriate, including the right to come to the your home and examine your hard drive, as well as the your underwear drawer if the Author feels like it, take it or leave it, till death doeth us part.

The Author does not guarantee that Shadow Desktop XSLT would actually load into your browser, can be parsed and rendered within finite time, or will produce any output. By browsing these pages your browser may hang, your Windows may crash, your PC may explode, or the building you are in may be haunted by shadows. If anything bad happens then you, not the Author, assume the entire cost of damages done and of all necessary remedies.

The files are provided as is, without warranty of any kind. The author makes no representations or warranties of any kind whatsoever for the files and specifically disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, reliability, quality and fitness for any particular purpose. Should the files prove defective or incomplete, you assume the risk of paying the entire cost of all incidental or consequential damages. In no event will the author be liable for errors contained, or for any damages whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of the use or the inability to use these files.

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