Convert ADOC to XML

Why Convert ADOC to XML?

Converting AsciiDoc to XML transforms human-readable documentation into a structured, machine-processable format that enables powerful data exchange and interoperability capabilities. While AsciiDoc is ideal for writing and maintaining documentation, XML provides the structured format needed for system integration, automated processing, and data transformation workflows.

XML's self-describing nature and schema validation capabilities make it the gold standard for data interchange in enterprise environments. By converting your AsciiDoc content to XML, you gain access to the vast ecosystem of XML tools including XSLT transformations, XPath queries, and schema validation, enabling sophisticated content processing and multi-channel publishing workflows.

The conversion is essential when your documentation needs to be consumed by enterprise systems, content management platforms, or data processing pipelines. XML's hierarchical structure maps naturally to AsciiDoc's document organization, preserving sections, lists, tables, and metadata in a format that machines can reliably parse and validate.

XML has been the foundation of countless data formats and standards, from DocBook and DITA for technical documentation to SVG for graphics and XHTML for web content. Converting to XML opens doors to these ecosystems and enables transformation to virtually any target format through XSLT stylesheets.

Key Benefits of Converting ADOC to XML:

• Universal Data Exchange: XML is supported by virtually every programming language and platform
• Schema Validation: Define precise document structures with DTD or XSD schemas
• XSLT Transformations: Transform XML content into HTML, PDF, or other formats automatically
• Enterprise Integration: XML is the backbone of enterprise systems and web services
• Structured Data Access: Query content using XPath expressions for targeted retrieval
• Multi-Channel Publishing: Use XML as single source for web, print, and mobile outputs
• Long-Term Archival: Open, text-based format ensures decades of accessibility

Practical Examples

Example 1: Technical Documentation Conversion

Input ADOC file (specification.adoc):

= Product Specification
:author: Engineering Team
:version: 2.0

== Overview

The XR-500 system provides advanced processing.

=== Key Features

* High-performance CPU
* 16GB RAM standard
* SSD storage option

== Technical Details

Operating temperature:: -10C to 50C
Power consumption:: 45W typical

Output XML file (specification.xml):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<document>
  <metadata>
    <title>Product Specification</title>
    <author>Engineering Team</author>
    <version>2.0</version>
  </metadata>
  <section id="overview">
    <title>Overview</title>
    <paragraph>The XR-500 system provides advanced processing.</paragraph>
    <section id="key-features">
      <title>Key Features</title>
      <list type="unordered">
        <item>High-performance CPU</item>
        <item>16GB RAM standard</item>
        <item>SSD storage option</item>
      </list>
    </section>
  </section>
</document>

Example 2: Data Table Conversion

Input ADOC file (inventory.adoc):

== Server Inventory

[cols="1,2,1,1", options="header"]
|===
|Server ID |Hostname |Status |Location

|SRV-001 |webserver-prod-01 |Active |DC-East
|SRV-002 |database-primary |Active |DC-West
|SRV-003 |cache-node-01 |Maintenance |DC-East
|===

Output XML file (inventory.xml):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<section id="server-inventory">
  <title>Server Inventory</title>
  <table>
    <header>
      <cell>Server ID</cell>
      <cell>Hostname</cell>
      <cell>Status</cell>
      <cell>Location</cell>
    </header>
    <row>
      <cell>SRV-001</cell>
      <cell>webserver-prod-01</cell>
      <cell>Active</cell>
      <cell>DC-East</cell>
    </row>
  </table>
</section>

Example 3: API Documentation Conversion

Input ADOC file (api.adoc):

== API Endpoint: createUser

Creates a new user account in the system.

.Parameters
[horizontal]
username:: Required. Unique username (3-20 chars)
email:: Required. Valid email address
role:: Optional. User role (default: "member")

WARNING: This endpoint requires admin privileges.

Output XML file (api.xml):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<api-endpoint id="createuser">
  <title>API Endpoint: createUser</title>
  <description>Creates a new user account.</description>
  <parameters>
    <parameter name="username" required="true">
      <description>Unique username (3-20 chars)</description>
    </parameter>
    <parameter name="email" required="true">
      <description>Valid email address</description>
    </parameter>
    <parameter name="role" required="false">
      <description>User role (default: "member")</description>
    </parameter>
  </parameters>
  <admonition type="warning">
    This endpoint requires admin privileges.
  </admonition>
</api-endpoint>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What XML schema does the converter produce?

A: Our converter produces well-formed XML with a logical document structure that reflects the original AsciiDoc hierarchy. The output uses semantic element names (document, section, paragraph, list, etc.) that can be easily processed by XSLT or mapped to your custom schema requirements.

Q: Can I validate the XML output against a specific schema?

A: The generated XML is well-formed and follows a consistent structure. You can create a DTD or XSD schema based on the output structure, or transform the XML using XSLT to match an existing schema such as DocBook, DITA, or your organization's custom document format.

Q: How are AsciiDoc attributes preserved in XML?

A: Document attributes (author, version, date, etc.) are converted to metadata elements within the XML structure. Block and inline attributes are preserved as XML attributes on the corresponding elements, maintaining the semantic information from the original document.

Q: Are special characters properly escaped in the XML output?

A: Yes, all special characters are properly escaped according to XML specifications. Characters like <, >, &, and quotes are converted to their entity references. Code blocks may use CDATA sections to preserve content without extensive escaping.

Q: Can I convert the XML output to DocBook or DITA?

A: Yes, the structured XML output can be transformed to DocBook, DITA, or other XML document formats using XSLT stylesheets. The semantic structure of the output makes it straightforward to create mappings to standardized documentation formats.

Q: How are images and media references handled?

A: Image references are converted to XML elements with the source path preserved as an attribute. The actual image files are not embedded in the XML; instead, the references are maintained so you can resolve them in your processing pipeline or transform them to your target format.

Q: Is the XML output suitable for web services integration?

A: Yes, the XML output is well-formed and can be integrated into web services, REST APIs, or SOAP endpoints. You can process the XML with any programming language, transform it with XSLT, or parse it for content management system integration.

Q: Can I convert multiple AsciiDoc files into a single XML document?

A: Each AsciiDoc file is converted to its own XML file. However, you can use XML tools or XSLT to merge multiple XML outputs into a single document structure. For complex multi-file projects, consider using an XML-based build process to combine the converted files.