4. Automated conversion of whole documents to HTML

• 4.1. Converting word processing documents automatically (RTFtoHTML)
  • 4.1.1. RTFtoHTML User Guide
  • 4.1.2. Creating a document using heading levels
  • 4.1.3. Using a pre-existing word-processing document
  • 4.1.4. Alternative - without a pre-existing word-processing document
  • 4.1.5. Cleaning up converted documents
  • 4.1.6. Using RTFtoHTML to create multi-page web documents automatically
  • 4.1.7. Other RTF to HTML features

4.1. Converting word processing documents automatically (RTFtoHTML)

RTFtoHTML Version 4.17 can be downloaded from http://www.sunpack.com/RTF/latest . It is shareware and can be purchased for unlimited use. Some limited trial use is available after downloading - instructions are at http://www.sunpack.com/RTF/guide05.htm .

The Pricing information states "RTFtoHTML may be run for 30 days from the date of acquisition of the software for the purpose of evaluating the software. After 30 days, you must either purchase a license for the software, or remove it from your computer system."

4.1.1. RTFtoHTML User Guide

Start by reading the Features list.

4.1.2. Creating a document using heading levels

To achieve consistency over large numbers of web pages, or large bodies of text, use of headings is recommended strongly.

One drawback of Headings is that all text in a paragraph must be at the same heading level.

Identification of heading levels in text is also one of the main ways by which RTFtoHTML automatically converts word processing documents into sophisticated hypertexts.

On your test page, type some lines of text and format different lines variously as Heading 1, Heading 2 etc, so as to see the variations in format.

4.1.3. Using a pre-existing word-processing document

First , open the document in Word (or other word processor) (unless it is already saved as rtf). If it does not have any significant structure, give it a structure by applying Word's `Heading 1', `Heading 2' etc (from the [Format | Style] menu, or from the Style window) to headings or other significant structural divisions in your document.

Also apply a number of style elements such as italics and bold to some of the text.

Save the re-structured document as Rich Text Format (RTF), with a .rtf suffix.

Now follow the instructions above for use of RTFtoHTML.

4.1.4. Alternative - without a pre-existing word-processing document

Then save the document as RTF (see above), and continue the exercises using that document.

4.1.5. Cleaning up converted documents

• Pages will often appear entitled `Without a Title'. As well as giving the document a title at the top of the page, you will need to do so for the title bar - see Exercise 3.2 .

4.1.6. Using RTFtoHTML to create multi-page web documents automatically

Run RTFtoHTML again over the document you used for the previous exercise, but this time use it with the flag `-h1' (to break the document up at level 1 headings) or, if the document is long and complicated enough, by using the `-h2' flag (to break the document up at level 2 headings).

4.1.7. Other RTF to HTML features