The document describes two OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice extensions called odt2daisy and odt2braille that allow generating accessible formats like DAISY digital talking books and Braille from OpenOffice/LibreOffice documents. The extensions were developed as part of the AEGIS project to improve accessibility. Odt2daisy can convert documents to the DAISY format with synchronized text and audio. Odt2braille is still in development but aims to allow embedding Braille codes and embossing directly from OpenOffice/LibreOffice.
2. The AEGIS Project
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EC-funded project, Sep. 2008-Feb.2012
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20+ partners, including Oracle (Sun),
AOL, RIM, Vodafone Foundation, RNIB,
K.U.Leuven, …
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Access to desktop, RIAs and mobile
applications
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Many open-source “prototypes” /
products
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http://www.aegis-project.eu/
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
3. odt2daisy:
Generating DAISY Books from
OpenOffice.org & LibreOffice
Christophe Strobbe
K.U.Leuven, Belgium
christophe.strobbe@esat.kuleuven.be
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
4. Digital Talking Books
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For persons with “print disabilities”
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Text + audio (synthetic or human voice)
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Highlighting synchronised with audio
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DAISY – ANSI/NISO Z39/86
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Production: typically
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by specialised production centres
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for blind & visually impaired users
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i.e. not by users (in 2007)
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
5. Objectives
Enable end-users to produce DAISY
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In most European languages
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In a free and open-source office suite
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Support:
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DAISY 3 (with or without audio)
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DAISY 2.02 (for older players)
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Multilingual content
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Mathematical Markup Language
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
6. Methodology
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Build OOo / LibO extension
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Odt2dtbook by Vincent Spiewak
available in 2008
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Functionality available as extension and
as reusable JAR (Java Archive)
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Add:
– DAISY 3 audio, DAISY 2.02
– comprehensive set of test documents
(regression testing)
– Support for multilingual content on
Windows
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
7. odt2daisy Components (1)
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Java Open Document Library (JODL)
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For ODT / XML preprocessing
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odt2daisy library
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Converts ODT to DAISY XML (XSLT)
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Validates output
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Reusable Java library
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Command line interface
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
8. odt2daisy Components (2)
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odt2daisy extension
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Wrapper for other components:
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Uses OpenOffice.org UNO API
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Uses odt2daisy library
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Uses DAISY Pipeline Lite (speech
synthesis)
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Includes templates
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Templates with custom styles for DAISY
production
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
9. Results (1)
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odt2daisy released November 2009
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Tutorials in various formats (text,
DAISY, video)
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Developer documentation
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Test files for regression testing
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TTS in 27 languages where eSpeak is
available (Linux, Windows)
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Compatible with OOo Writer 3.0 or
higher and with LibOWriter
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
10. Results (2)
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Support for ODT features
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Heading, List, Table, Images, Captions,
Notes, Foot/Rear notes, Math, TOC,
Section, Frame, Bookmark,
Metadata, ...
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Page numbering (1,i,I,a,A; advanced)
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Front / body / rear matter
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“Complex text layout” and East-Asian
languages not supported
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
11. Results (3)
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Release 2.1 in April 2010
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Localisation in French, Dutch, Spanish
and Hungarian
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Compatible with OpenOffice.org 3.2
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Has been tested in first ÆGIS pilot
phase
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Not yet compatible with 64-bit OSs
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Integrated into DAISY Pipeline by
DAISY Consortium & Dedicon’s altText
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
12. Future Plans
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Support more ODT features
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Some were hard to parse (e.g.
multilingual text; “Asian” languages)
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TTS quality:
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Users want more control over TTS
output (DAISY Pipeline Lite)
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TTS as internet service/in cloud?
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Fix bugs (numbered lists, math, image
captions & long description, ...)
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
13. Installing odt2daisy
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Download odt2daisy from
http://odt2daisy.sf.net/
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In OOo or LibO Writer go to Tools ->
Extension Manager... -> Add...
to install it
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
14. Export to DAISY: 1
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Choose “Export as Full DAISY...” in File
menu
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Choose file name and location in “Save
as” dialogue
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Set metadata and options in odt2daisy
dialog
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
15. Export to DAISY: 2
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Some metadata are
copied from source
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“alternate level
markup”: when > 6
levels of headings
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CSS: for viewing XML
in browser
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Some automatic fix
routines
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
16. Export to DAISY: 3
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odt2daisy converts ODT to DAISY XML
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odt2daisy calls DAISY Pipeline Lite for
text-to-speech
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
17. Export to DAISY: 4
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DAISY Pipeline also performs validation,
e.g. images must be JPG or PNG (or
SVG)
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
19. Motivation & Problem Area (1)
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Braille
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faces competition from TTS and digital
talking books
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important for functional literacy
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only reading method for deafblind
persons
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
20. Motivation & Problem Area (2)
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Braille production: current methods:
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RoboBraille: e-mail based Braille translation
agent
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AutoBraille & NorBraille: multi-volume Braille
books based on DAISY
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Dots: open-source Braille transcriber for
GNOME (relies on liblouisxml)
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Tiger Software Suite (TSS), Braille Maker,
WinBraille: embossing from MS Word and
other Microsoft applications
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
21. Objectives
Enable end-users to produce Braille
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In a free, open-source and cross-
platform office suite
=> OpenOffice.org / LibreOffice as
Braille authoring environment
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Reduce or eliminate the need for editing
Braille codes after export
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Emboss directly or just export
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
22. Methodology
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Build OpenOffice.org extension
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Reuse existing tools:
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liblouisxml: open-source library for
Braille transcription of XML docs
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liblouis: Braille translation engine
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pef2text (DAISY Pipeline): converts
Portable Embosser Format to generic or
embosser-specific format
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library from odt2daisy
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
24. Results (1)
Alpha 0.03 released 2 December 2010:
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OpenDocument Text (ODT) can be
embossed on small list of embossers
(Interpoint, Index Braille, Braillo)
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Export to “Braille Formatted files”
(.brf; .bra)
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Export to Portable Embosser Format
(PEF): embosser-independent; uses
XML and Unicode
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
25. Results (2)
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Braille settings stored as metadata in
ODT
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Braille support for ± 30 languages,
mainly through liblouis
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UI localised in
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English, Dutch, French, German,
Spanish, Portuguese,...
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Currently only on Windows
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
26. odt2braille > liblouisxml (1)
odt2braille is more than a liblouis &
liblouisxml wrapper (1)
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Provide easy configuration through GUI
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Create typical OOo/LibO experience
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Translate easy-to-understand settings
to complex configuration files for
liblouisxml
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
27. odt2braille > liblouisxml (2)
odt2braille is more than a liblouis &
liblouisxml wrapper (2)
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Convert ODT to intermediate XML
format:
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Put captions after tables, move some style
info, add notes section, add title page
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= for sequential processing by liblouis
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(ODT is too complex to be handled by
liblouisxml alone)
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
28. odt2braille > liblouisxml (3)
odt2braille is more than a liblouis &
liblouisxml wrapper (3)
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Compensate for limitations of
liblouisxml
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Volume management
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Creation of notesections and preliminary
section containing title page, list of
special symbols, transriber’s notes page
and a table of contents
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
29. odt2braille > liblouisxml (4)
odt2braille is more than a liblouis &
liblouisxml wrapper (4)
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Store settings as metadata in ODT
document
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Convert to PEF / various other output
formats
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Provide output preview
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Handle embossing
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
30. Installing odt2braille
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Download odt2braille from
http://odt2braille.sf.net/
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In Writer go to Tools -> Extension
Manager... -> Add... to install it
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New items in File menu
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
31. Braille Settings
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File -> Braille
Settings
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odt2braille
analyses
document &
suggests
settings
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User can
override settings
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
32. Export as Braille: 1
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File -> Export as
Braille...
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Choose PEF (Portable
Embosser Format), BRF
(Braille Formatted) or
BRA (Spain)
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Customise...
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
33. Export as Braille: 2
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odt2braille performs a few basic
accessibility checks
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A full accessibility checker is being
developed by K.U.Leuven (AEGIS)
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
34. Emboss
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File -> Emboss...
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Few embossers
currently supported
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Output can be
customised
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011
35. Future Plans
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Support for larger set of embossers
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Availability on non-Windows platforms
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Extension to check accessibility in
OpenOffice.org / LibreOffice Writer
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Display errors & warnings in task panel
(OOo / LibO 3.3+)
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Description & hints for repair
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Repair button when possible
FOSDEM, Brussels, Belgium, 5-6 February 2011