Metanorma's PDF Published Status: Stage Override Explained

Aug 3, 2025 by Viktoria Ivanova 59 views

PDF Published Status of Stage Override - Metanorma Updates Discussion

Hey everyone,

I wanted to bring up an important update regarding how Metanorma handles the published status of documents, especially concerning stage overrides. This might seem a bit technical, but it's crucial for ensuring consistency and accuracy in our document generation process. This discussion mainly revolves around a change I'm implementing due to some taste considerations, particularly within the Metanorma CSA flavor.

Understanding the Current System

Currently, the published status of a document is determined by its stage and status, and this determination is specific to each Metanorma flavor. In simpler terms, whether a document is considered "published" depends on what stage it's in (like draft, review, final) and the specific rules defined for that flavor (like CSA, ISO, etc.). This logic is embedded within the code of each flavor, which can sometimes lead to inconsistencies and make it harder to manage.

To address this, I've identified a need to represent this "published" determination as metadata within Isodoc. This metadata, specifically the metadata.unpublished element, is crucial for deciding which parts of the boilerplate text to render in the final document. Think of boilerplate as the standard legal disclaimers, copyright notices, and other standard information that appears in documents. Whether these sections are included or not often depends on the published status of the document.

The New Override Mechanism: `stage-published`

To improve flexibility and control over this process, I'm introducing an override mechanism using the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. This element is a boolean value (true or false) that will allow us to explicitly specify whether a particular stage should be considered "published" or not. This means we can configure this setting directly, rather than relying on the flavor-specific code.

This change stems from an implementation detail in Metanorma CSA issue #327, where we needed a more flexible way to manage the published status for different stages. By using the stage-published element, we can now define through configuration whether a selected stage is considered published or not. This is a significant improvement because it moves the logic out of the code and into configuration, making it easier to update and maintain.

Why This Change Matters

This is a big deal because it gives us a centralized and consistent way to manage the published status of documents. Instead of having the logic scattered across different flavors, we have a single source of truth. This simplifies the process and reduces the risk of errors.

Imagine you have a document that's in the "Review" stage. In the old system, whether that stage was considered "published" depended on the specific flavor you were using. With the new system, we can explicitly define whether the "Review" stage is considered published by setting the stage-published element to true or false. This gives us much more control and flexibility.

Implications for PDF XSLTs

Now, here's where things get interesting for those of you working with PDF XSLTs (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations). XSLTs are used to transform the XML structure of our documents into the final PDF format. If your PDF XSLTs currently determine the published status based on the document's status, you'll need to adapt to this new override mechanism.

In the future, if PDF XSLTs need to determine if a document is published, they should check the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. This ensures that they are using the same source of truth as the rest of the system.

A Unified Source of Truth

Ideally, if PDF XSLTs need this information, I believe we should consistently populate the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. This way, there's one single, reliable source of information for the published status, regardless of where it's being used. This approach ensures consistency and avoids potential discrepancies.

So, the key takeaway here is that if your XSLTs rely on the status to determine if a document is published, you will need to implement the stage-published override.

What I Need From You

This is where I need your input, guys. If your PDF XSLTs currently rely on the document status to determine whether it's published, please let me know. Also, if you think your processes might be affected by this change, I'd love to hear from you.

If PDF XSLTs do not need this information, then you can safely ignore this update. But please, let me know either way! It's crucial for me to understand how this change might impact everyone's workflow.

Why Your Feedback Is Important

Your feedback is super important because it helps us ensure that these changes are implemented smoothly and don't break anything. We want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that our document generation process is as efficient and reliable as possible.

By understanding how different parts of the system rely on the published status, we can make informed decisions about how to best implement the stage-published override. This collaborative approach helps us build a more robust and maintainable system for everyone.

In Summary

To recap, we're introducing a new way to manage the published status of documents in Metanorma using the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element. This change provides a centralized and configurable way to determine whether a stage is considered published, replacing the flavor-specific logic that was previously in place.

This is primarily driven by the needs of Metanorma CSA, but it has broader implications for anyone working with PDF XSLTs. If your XSLTs rely on the document status to determine the published status, you'll need to adapt to this new override mechanism.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns! Your feedback is invaluable as we move forward with this change.

Next Steps

Review your PDF XSLTs: Check if they rely on the document status to determine the published status.
Provide feedback: Let me know if your XSLTs are affected or if you have any concerns about this change.
Stay tuned for updates: I'll keep you informed as we progress with the implementation of this feature.

Thanks for your time and attention to this important update! Let's work together to make Metanorma even better.

Benefits of the `stage-published` Override

Let's dive a bit deeper into the benefits of using the stage-published override. This isn't just a technical change; it's a strategic move that enhances the flexibility and maintainability of our Metanorma system. Here are some key advantages:

1. Enhanced Configuration Flexibility

The most significant benefit is the increased flexibility in configuration. Instead of hardcoding the published status logic within each Metanorma flavor, we can now define it through configuration. This means we can easily change whether a stage is considered published without modifying the underlying code. This is especially useful when dealing with different standards organizations or document types that have varying requirements for when a document is considered "published."

For example, imagine you're working on a standard that has a unique review process. In some cases, you might want a document to be considered "published" even during the review stage, while in other cases, you might want to wait until the final stage. With the stage-published override, you can easily configure this behavior without having to dive into the code.

2. Centralized Source of Truth

By using the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element, we establish a centralized source of truth for the published status. This eliminates the risk of inconsistencies that can arise when the logic is scattered across different flavors. When everyone is referring to the same source of information, we can be confident that our documents are being processed correctly and consistently.

This centralized approach also simplifies debugging and troubleshooting. If there's an issue with the published status determination, we know exactly where to look – the stage-published element. This makes it easier to identify and fix problems, saving time and effort.

3. Improved Maintainability

Moving the published status logic to configuration significantly improves the maintainability of the Metanorma system. When the logic is in code, any changes require modifying and redeploying the code, which can be time-consuming and risky. With configuration, we can make changes quickly and easily without affecting the core codebase.

This is particularly beneficial for long-term maintenance. As standards and requirements evolve, we can adapt our Metanorma system by simply updating the configuration. This reduces the need for complex code changes and ensures that our system remains up-to-date and compliant.

4. Reduced Flavor-Specific Logic

The stage-published override helps us reduce the amount of flavor-specific logic in our system. By externalizing the published status determination, we can make our flavors more generic and reusable. This simplifies the development and maintenance of new flavors and reduces the risk of introducing bugs.

This is a key step towards a more modular and scalable Metanorma system. By minimizing flavor-specific logic, we can create a more consistent and predictable environment for document generation.

5. Enhanced Collaboration

Finally, the stage-published override promotes better collaboration among Metanorma users and developers. By providing a clear and configurable way to manage the published status, we make it easier for everyone to understand and contribute to the system.

This transparency and clarity are essential for building a strong and collaborative community around Metanorma. When everyone understands how the system works, they can contribute more effectively and help us improve it over time.

Conclusion

The introduction of the metanorma-extension/semantic-metadata/stage-published element is a significant step forward in the evolution of Metanorma. It provides a more flexible, consistent, and maintainable way to manage the published status of documents. By embracing this change, we can streamline our document generation process and ensure that our standards are accurate and reliable.

Remember, your feedback is crucial as we implement this change. Please take the time to review your PDF XSLTs and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Together, we can make Metanorma an even better tool for creating standards.

Thanks, everyone, for your attention to this important update. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and working together to make Metanorma the best it can be!