using saxon + apache-fop -- help!

[Robert Nagle]

Hi, there, I'm going to give my client instructions about how to create the
xslt docbook environment for producing docs.

Actually though I've never done it before from scratch usually hopefully
only the command line.

I'm going to give directions for doing it in linux: saxon + apache+fop.

I'm now looking over Bob's directions and am trying to figure things out.
I'm not really comfortable with java, so I'm flying blind so to speak. I
didn't realize that I would need to download some java libraries to process
images/pngs (with JAI). Also, I probably need to remind myself how to add
paths, etc.

(By the way, if anyone has prepared a more recent set of instructions for
deploying on a linux/ubuntu machine, feel free to forward it to me. Bob's
documents are good, but 7 years later I fear that some of the instructions
might be out of date)).

Here are some superficial questions that jump out on me:

1. In Saxon, do I have to tell it (via a switch or special command) to use
xincludes? Or will it already figure out that index.xml will call
first.xml, second.xml, etc...
2. I guess I probably need to validate my files. Is Xalan still the best
way to do that?
3. Is it still recommended to download and use Xerces instead of Saxon.

Thanks. Robert



java version "1.6.0_31"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea6 1.13.3)
(6b31-1.13.3-1ubuntu1~0.12.04.2)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.25-b01, mixed mode)