The problem may have either of two origins.

1.  The macro that is required to run the print preview in XMetaL 1.2, which
one finds in the EAD Cookbook, is different from the one required by version
2.0.  This change is the result of  SoftQuad making the Microsoft XSLT
engine rather than James Clark's XT the default transformation application
for version 2.0.

2.  Version 2.0 of XMetaL also requires an updated version of the Microsoft
XML Parser for IE to perform the transformation rather than relying on the
one that was installed by default with IE 5.0 or 5.5.  The last time I
looked, this required downloading the files from the Microsoft web site and
reconfiguring the Windows registry.  Instructions for all this are posted by
Microsoft.

Even with these changes, I have encountered problems with the combination of
XMetaL 2 and the Microsoft XML Parser.  These and the configuration problems
described above may have been resolved with Microsoft's release of Service
Pack 1.   For information, try www.microsoft.com/xml.

That is not the full url but entering this will get you there.

As an option, SoftQuad lets you continue to use James Clark's XT application
rather than the Microsoft tool though this is not documented in writing.  On
the XMetaL 2.0 install disk, see the setup.exe file in xmetal/support/xslt
folder.

I hope to be able to release a more formal description of this situation
from the EAD Help PAges web site but with a new version XMetaL (2.1) and now
version 4.0 of the MSXML Parser, I need to do some more testing first.

I hope that provides some transitional help.

Michael

Michael J. Fox
Assistant Director for Library and Archives
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd West
St. Paul, MN 55102-2409
651-296-2150  (phone)
651-296-9961  (fax)
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Rush [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 11:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: XMetaL Configuration Problem: Page Preview


Hello all,

I have run into a problem installing the EAD Cookbook into XMetaL 2.1.  I
have double checked and am confident that I have copied the appropriate
files into the appropriate folders.  Our network administrator reinstalled
the software and double checked the upgrade.  I was once able to install the
Cookbook in XMetaL 1.2 at a different institution, so I am stumped.

The crux of the problem is that the page preview option generates an error.
Specifically, the dialog box says, "Automation server can't create object,"
and refers me to Line 38, Column 2 of the ead.mcr file which is the middle
line of the following command:

 // Apply XSLT stylesheet
  var xt = new ActiveXObject("XT.Application");
  xt.transform( xmlPath, xslPath, htmPath );

Has anyone else run into this problem?  Our net admin talked with Softquad
and they weren't too helpful, but perhaps I will have to speak with them
myself.

Any help will be appreciated.  My apologies if this has already come up on
the list; the link to the list archives from the LoC page is not working.

Mike
____________________________________
Michael Rush - Manuscript Processor
Massachusetts Historical Society
[log in to unmask] - (617)646-0553