Currently dbdesc allows you to view database documentation in Word by using the Rich Text Format (RTF) template. It works nice. However, if you want to customize this template you are going to face a tough task because of the way RTF handles blanks. I’ve done it and it’s hard.

By the way, I think it’s time to add another XSLT template to dbdesc. So I decided to start implementing a WordML template to allow dbdesc generate Word 2003 documents. Although WordML will be substituted by the new and controversial Microsoft Open XML formats in Office 12, it will be a supported format anyway.

So these are the essential reading I found for now about WordML:

Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas Brian Jones blog

I’ll share my progress in next posts.