Using XSLT we create a PDF file from which we print a copy of the finding aid for our Reading Room and create an HTML copy for the web site. Both the XML and HTML versions go on the web site.
The XML instances are indexed using Cheshire II. The patron searches the Cheshire II indices. The results of the search are run through a script which links the results to the appropriate html copy. We found this to be faster than trying to have the XML document convert on the fly.
We currently have around 200 finding aids on our site. Most of the information is entered into databases while the archival material is being processed. When we are ready to create a new finding aid we export the selected material out of our databases and assemble the final product using NoteTab. NoteTab is used to make final adjustments to the document, to parse it and to transform it.