From Text to Web: A Step-by-Step with CG Text2HtmlTurning plain text into clean, semantic HTML is a common task for writers, developers, and content teams. CG Text2Html is a tool designed to streamline that process: it interprets formatting cues, preserves content structure, and outputs accessible, well-formed HTML ready for publishing. This article walks through why conversion matters, how CG Text2Html works, and practical workflows and tips to get the best results.
Why convert text to HTML?
Plain text is portable and quick to create, but the web requires structure. HTML provides that structure: headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images, and semantic elements that help browsers, search engines, and assistive technologies understand your content. Proper HTML improves accessibility, SEO, and consistency across sites and publishing platforms.
What is CG Text2Html?
CG Text2Html is a conversion utility (CLI, library, or web service depending on the implementation) that converts plain or lightly formatted text into tidy HTML. It recognizes common text patterns—like blank lines for paragraph breaks, leading hashes for headings, hyphens or asterisks for lists, and inline markers for links or emphasis—and transforms them into appropriate HTML tags. The goal is to reduce manual markup and produce predictable, clean output that developers can style with CSS or integrate into content management systems.
Key features and benefits
- Preserves logical structure: headings, paragraphs, lists, blockquotes.
- Converts inline formatting: bold, italics, inline code, links.
- Supports images and media insertion through simple syntax.
- Produces semantic, accessible HTML (aria attributes where applicable).
- Configurable output: choose which tags to allow, nesting rules, and sanitization.
- Easy integration: CLI for pipelines, library for apps, or API for web services.
Step-by-step workflow
Below is a practical workflow using CG Text2Html, covering input preparation, conversion, validation, styling, and publishing.
1) Prepare your source text
- Use consistent conventions: blank lines for paragraph separation, hash marks (#) for headings, asterisks or hyphens for lists.
- Keep inline formatting simple: italics, bold,
code. - Include explicit URLs or markdown-style links like label.
- For images, use a clear placeholder syntax (e.g.,
).
Example source snippet:
# Introduction CG Text2Html converts plain text into clean HTML quickly. ## Features - Semantic output - Configurable rules - Easy integration For more, visit [CG Text2Html](https://example.com). 2) Run conversion
- CLI: pass the text file and receive HTML output.
- Library: call the conversion function with options (allowed tags, sanitization).
- API: send text as payload and receive HTML in response.
Example CLI usage:
cg-text2html input.txt -o output.html Useful options:
- –sanitize: strip disallowed tags/attributes.
- –preserve-whitespace: keep exact spacing for preformatted blocks.
- –toc: generate a table of contents from headings.
3) Validate and sanitize
- Use the tool’s sanitization options to remove unsafe HTML (scripts, inline handlers).
- Validate the produced HTML for well-formedness (HTML validators or IDEs).
- Confirm semantic structure: headings should form a logical hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3).
4) Style and enhance
- Apply a CSS stylesheet that targets semantic tags (h1–h6, p, ul/ol, blockquote, code).
- Add responsive handling for images and media.
- Optionally add microdata or Open Graph tags outside the converted fragment for richer sharing and SEO.
5) Integrate into CMS or site
- Embed the converted HTML into templates or content fields that accept HTML.
- For CMSs that sanitize input, ensure allowed tags match what CG Text2Html produces.
- Automate conversion in publishing pipelines (pre-save hooks, CI tasks, or build steps).
Advanced usage and customization
- Custom parsing rules: map custom markers to specific HTML elements or classes.
- Plugin hooks: post-process output to add features like syntax highlighting for code blocks, lazy-loading images, or transforming shortcodes.
- Internationalization: handle right-to-left text, language attributes, and localized typographic rules.
- Accessibility enhancements: auto-add aria-labels, role attributes, or keyboard focus management for interactive components.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Broken heading order: ensure your source uses headings in a logical hierarchy; run an automatic heading-normalizer if needed.
- Unexpected tags stripped by CMS: adjust CMS allowed tags or configure the converter to use simpler equivalents.
- Inline HTML not preserved: enable an option to allow raw HTML fragments if safe and needed.
- Lists not detected: verify list markers are preceded by a blank line and consistently used.
Best practices
- Keep source text clean and predictable—consistent patterns yield better conversion.
- Sanitize output by default; allow raw HTML only when you control the environment.
- Use semantic tags; avoid relying on
for structure.
- Automate conversion in your publishing workflow to reduce manual errors.
- Test with assistive technologies (screen readers) to ensure accessibility.
Example: Full conversion flow (concise)
- Write content in plain text using simple markdown-like conventions.
- Run CG Text2Html with sanitization and TOC generation.
- Validate HTML and apply site CSS.
- Publish or integrate into CMS; monitor for rendering issues.
CG Text2Html turns the familiar simplicity of plain text into structured, accessible HTML—speeding up publishing while keeping content clean and maintainable.
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