Instead of using the FO-like parameters, you can directly provide your own context layout. This customization method is easier for people knowing ConTeXt, and for those willing to use some predefined context layouts. In addition, this method allows to have an advanced setup that cannot be done with a bunch of XSL parameters.

You just need to specify the layout file to include with the tex.layout parameter, and optionally add the path to TEXINPUTS (-i option). The TEXINPUTS path to add can be relative or absolute.

dbcontext -P tex.layout=mylayout.tex  -i. myfile.xml

The context layout can be as simple as the following:

% Default font
\definetypeface[mainface][serif]
\setupbodyfont[mainface,10pt]

% Page geometry
\setuplayout[topspace=0.5in,
             headerdistance=0.3in,
             header=6mm,
             bottomspace=0.5in,
             footer=6mm,
             width=middle,
             height=middle]

% Header/Footer setup
\setuppagenumbering[location=]
\setupheadertexts[chapter][section]
\setupbackgrounds[header][text][frame=off,bottomframe=on,framecolor=black]
\setupbackgrounds[footer][text][frame=off,topframe=on,framecolor=black]

\setupfootertexts[pagenumber]