install-sgmlcatalog

install-sgmlcatalog [options] --add | --remove catalog_path...
install-sgmlcatalog --show
install-sgmlcatalog --help
install-sgmlcatalog --version

catalog_path...
    One or more paths to SGML or XML catalog files to be added or removed from the system catalog.

--add
    Adds the specified catalog_path(s) to the system SGML/XML catalog.

--remove
    Removes the specified catalog_path(s) from the system SGML/XML catalog.

--show
    Displays the current contents of the system SGML/XML catalog, indicating which catalog files are included.

--verbose
    Provides more detailed output during execution, showing actions taken.

--quiet
    Suppresses normal output, showing only errors.

--help
    Displays a brief help message and exits.

--version
    Displays version information for the command and exits.

The install-sgmlcatalog command is a utility for managing system-wide SGML and XML catalogs. It allows administrators to register SGML or XML document types, DTDs (Document Type Definitions), entities, and other related resources so that SGML/XML parsers and tools can locate them automatically. This command is particularly useful in environments where multiple SGML/XML applications or documents share common DTDs or schemas. By adding entries to the system catalog (typically /etc/sgml/catalog or /etc/xml/catalog), install-sgmlcatalog streamlines the process of resolving external identifiers, improving portability and simplifying document processing. It handles the inclusion of specified catalog files into the main system catalog, ensuring that new or updated resources are properly recognized by SGML/XML-aware applications. This command simplifies the complex task of maintaining consistent and searchable resource mappings across a system.

Modifying system-wide catalogs typically requires root privileges. Incorrect catalog entries can disrupt SGML/XML processing for applications relying on them. This command is primarily found on Debian-based systems as part of the sgml-base package. While SGML catalogs are still used, modern XML processing often relies on alternative schema validation mechanisms or direct URI resolution.

The system-wide SGML and XML catalogs managed by this command are typically located at /etc/sgml/catalog and /etc/xml/catalog, respectively. These are master catalog files that include references to other specific catalog files.

SGML/XML catalogs provide a mapping mechanism to resolve public identifiers or URIs to local file paths. This allows SGML/XML parsers to find DTDs, external entities, and other resources without requiring network access, making processing faster, more robust, and enabling offline validation and transformation.

The install-sgmlcatalog command is part of the sgml-base package, which originated in Debian to provide a standardized way for managing SGML/XML resources across various packages. It automates the setup and maintenance of the SGML/XML “Open Catalog” system, ensuring that SGML/XML tools and applications can consistently locate required DTDs, entities, and other resources. It has been a stable component of Debian's infrastructure for many years, facilitating consistent document processing.

sgml-register(8), xmlcatalog(1), update-catalog(8)