docbook-apps

Multi-column Spanning Pages

  • 1.  Multi-column Spanning Pages

    Posted 06-06-2009 17:06
      |   view attached
    Hello, Everyone.

    We are working on a training booklet for a customer that has a pre-
    defined format for training courses. One of the format requirements
    is that the learning objectives be split into knowledge and skills
    tasks. The knowledge tasks listed on the left side of a landscape
    page, and the skills tasks listed on the right side of the same
    landscape page.

    I'd like to use the following code to list each task set:


    <orderedlist>
    <listitem><para>Knowledge task 1</para></listitem>
    ...
    ...
    </orderedlist>


    <orderedlist>
    <listitem><para>Skills task 1</para></listitem>
    ...
    ...
    </orderedlist>


    I can see how multi-column pages are done, but that would cause the
    first section (knowledge) to snake through both sides, then the second
    section (skills) to do the same. What I need, however, is for these
    two sections to run parallel paths down each column, and cross over
    pages the same way. I've attached a PDF diagram to describe this
    visually. I plan to do a lot more reading about XSL-FO to see if I
    can figure this out (I need to do that anyway), but, before I tackle
    that, does anyone have any tips for accomplishing this layout?

    Thanks,
    Dave


    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    columns.pdf   57 KB 1 version