Towards automating of document structure transformations

In this paper we develop a syntax-directed approach to transformation of documents from one structure to another. The aim is to automate a transformation between two grammars that have common parts, although the grammars and names of elements may differ. In an important case, called local transformations, the transformation can be performed by a finite state tree transducer. We propose a system that can generate a transformation semi-automatically if the user defines a matching between the elements containing the text of the document. Multiple possible translations from the target grammar can be restricted using a suitable heuristic function so that the transformation can be completed in a reasonable time period. From the generated transformation specification, it is possible to construct rules for a tree transducer or XSLT script automatically.