xfpt is a program that reads a file of plain text that contains relatively simple markup, and outputs an XML file. It is intended to simplify the management of XML data. It is not a program that attempts to turn a plain text document into XML. Markup within text is introduced by ampersand characters, but is otherwise "soft". You can define what follows the ampersand, for example, &" to generate a "quote" element. There is also a macro facility that allows for higher level concepts such as chapters, displays, tables, etc.