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This is the official home page for DocBook 5: The Definitive Guide. The definitive guide is the official documentation for DocBook. The latest edition covers DocBook V5.0. It was published by O'Reilly Media and XML Press.

In support of DocBook users everywhere, this book and its source XML are available online. Of course, you're always free to buy a copy, too, if you'd like :-).

The previous edition of the book covered both SGML and XML and was aimed at the DocBook V3.x and DocBook V4.x schemas. It's no longer being actively developed, and has gone out of print, but it is still available online.

DocBook XSL: The Complete Guide by Bob Stayton and published by Sagehill Enterprises is the definitive guide to using the DocBook XSL stylesheets. It provides the necessary documentation to realize the full potential of DocBook publishing. It covers all aspects of DocBook publishing tools, including installing, using, and customizing the stylesheets and processing tools.

Also available: buttons, shirts, and other swag. Wear your duck on your sleeve! Well, your chest anyway.

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DocBook V5.1b2 (27 Jul 2010)

DocBook V5.1b2 is the second test release of DocBook V5.1. Version 5.1 fixes a number of bugs and adds support for topic-based authoring (through a topic element and support for “assemblies”).

Version 5.1b2 is available in RELAX NG and non-normatively in DTD and W3C XML Schema formats.

DocBook 5: The Definitive Guide V1.3 (27 Jul 2010)

This is the “work in progress” edition of DocBook 5: The Definitive Guide. Version 1.3 documents DocBook V5.1b2.

DocBook V5.1b1 (02 Jul 2010)

DocBook V5.1b1 is the first test release of DocBook V5.1. Version 5.1 fixes a number of bugs and adds support for topic-based authoring (through a topic element and support for “assemblies”).

Version 5.1b1 is available in RELAX NG and non-normatively in DTD and W3C XML Schema formats.

DocBook 5: The Definitive Guide (01 May 2010)

This is the official version of DocBook 5: The Definitive Guide published by O'Reilly Media and XML Press. It covers DocBook V5.0.

DocBook V5.0 (01 Nov 2009)

DocBook V5.0 is the official OASIS Standard release of DocBook V5.0. It is a RELAX NG reimplementation of DocBook. It is a significant redesign that attempts to remain true to the spirit of DocBook.

Version 5.0 is available in RELAX NG and non-normatively in DTD and W3C XML Schema formats.

DocBook: The Definitive Guide V2.0.17 (11 Oct 2006)

This is the “work in progress” second edition of DocBook: The Definitive Guide for DocBook V4.x. Version 2.0.17 documents DocBook XML V4.5. The only change in version 2.0.17 is in the license terms; it is now available under the GNU FDL without any “Cover Text” restrictions.

DocBook V4.5 (03 Oct 2006)

DocBook is general purpose XML and SGML document type particularly well suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software (though it is by no means limited to these applications).

Version 4.5 is available in XML and SGML. Unofficial RELAX NG and W3C XML Schema versions are also available.

Version 4.5 is an OASIS Standard.