#Sand writing generator windows#

The reflection file is then processed by the XslTransform.exe tool multiple times to apply various XSL transformations that add data such as a 'doc model' and optional version information. Sandcastle does not produce compiled help output itself (although, the HTML files that it produces can be used as input to HTML help compilers such as the HTML Help Workshop and Microsoft Help 2).ДЇor example, the typical Help 1.x build process starts by running MrefBuilder.exe to produce an XML reflection file for one or more assemblies. Sandcastle provides a reference build component stack (nfig) that builds in-memory indexes of the data, resolves shared content and links, and uses XSL to generate the final HTML output. A 'doc model' XSL transformation, provided by the chosen presentation style, is applied to define the files that will be generated. Reference documentation is generated automatically for managed Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from reflection data and XML documentation comments. Sandcastle provides a conceptual build component stack (nfig) that resolves shared content and links, and uses XSL files to transform MAML elements into HTML. The processes for building conceptual documentation and reference documentation are similar, with one of the main differences being that conceptual documentation does not require the MRefBuilder program to be used.Д¬onceptual documentation consists of topics written using a MAML document type schema such as how to, walk-through, troubleshooting and several others. These two different types of HTML output share the same presentation style and may be compiled together to produce mixed user/reference documentation. The HTML files that Sandcastle produces are either conceptual (user) documentation, being the result of a transformation from Microsoft Assistance Markup Language (MAML) topics, or they are reference documentation, which is automatically generated from reflection data and XML documentation comments. A build normally uses only one presentation style at a time. (This does not mean, however, that the files are XHTML-compliant.) The HTML is defined by XSL transformation files that are included in the particular presentation style being used. Sandcastle produces XML-based HTML files in a chosen presentation style. XML Schema Documenter for Sandcastle Help File Builder.This section contains a list of such tools and scripts. Sandcastle provides several build components that are used in build component stacks to perform tasks such as generating in-memory data indexes, resolving links, including shared content, executing XSL transformations and saving the final output to a file.Д«ecause in its current state Sandcastle by itself is rather complex to use, people have come up with tools and scripts that can automate the task for them. A build component stack is defined in an XML file with a. BuildAssembler executes a build component stack, once for each topic defined in an XML manifest.Typically, the specified input file is or derives from a file that is generated by MRefBuilder. XslTransform applies XSL transformations to an XML file.MrefBuilder uses Common Compiler Infrastructure (CCI) to reflect against managed assemblies and generate an output file.Sandcastle consists of several programs, not all of which are used in the typical help build process. The Visual Studio SDKs for 20 include older CTP versions of Sandcastle, although the latest release is available on GitHub. Several community GUI tools are also available for Sandcastle, providing additional features and simplifying its usage.

#Sand writing generator windows#

Sandcastle currently features a lightweight graphical user interface (GUI) as an alternative to the MSBuild project, batch script and Windows PowerShell scripts that are also provided.

The resulting HTML files are then used as input to tools such as the HTML Help Workshop to produce compiled help for distribution with the corresponding computer program. NET assemblies and XML documentation files that are generated by compilers. Sandcastle is typically used to automatically generate web-ready, XML-compliant HTML documentation in one of three built-in presentation styles from. Sandcastle is a set of command line programs, configuration files, build components and XSLT files that work together to convert XML-based documentation into help topics that are fit for viewing in a help system.