Docbook guidance

Hi 
again,

 

Here 
are some of the details/concerns/questions of my project. My apologies in 
advance if I don't use the appropriate technical terms, since I am still 
learning about xml related technologies. I have an extensive background in 
publishing (InDesign, Quark, PageMaker, FrameMaker & Ventura) and web design 
(solid XHTML & CSS), but my programming skills are nil. 

 

The 
problem involves the following challenges:

 

-Many cross-references and links: although I understand 
the basic concept of linking and cross-referencing with docbook, I am unclear on 
how to implement it. Does anyone know of good tutorials 
online?

-Entities: I am dealing with a dead language (pali) 
whose characters are not included in the Unicode set (the majority of them 
anyway). What is the best way of dealing with custom entities of this nature? In 
the past, I have simply altered the typeface by replacing the latin characters 
that I don't use in the ascii set with the ones I need. I could keep doing this 
temporarily, but it is not a viable long-term solution.

-Multiple languages: the document will eventually by 
translated in three languages: english, french and pali. I am assuming that 
mutliple language version is no problem when using the "lang" 
attribute.

-Versioning: I would like to be able to track different 
versions of the document as it evolves as well as the date of those changes. I 
am unclear of what attributes to use for this purpose, if 
possible.

-Ouput Media: the document will be ouputed as a personal 
website, suitable for handheld and printing. I assuming this is not a problem 
for docbook.

-Notes and sidebars: I know docbook has sidebars, notes 
and example elements, all of which I will use extensively. Is it possible 
through attributes to categorize them differently so they get a different visual 
treatment from the stylesheet? If so, what attributes (or other means) is 
appropriate for such a task. 

 

I 
have looked at a lot of possibilities, but docbook looks like the only thing 
able to handle all the following requirements. The questions are the most 
important issues I have.

 

thanks,

René