  Entropy production in the compression stage of heavy ion collisions is
discussed within three distinct macroscopic models (i.e. generalized RHTA,
geometrical overlap model and three-fluid hydrodynamics). We find that within
these models \sim 80% or more of the experimentally observed final-state
entropy is created in the early stage. It is thus likely followed by a nearly
isentropic expansion. We employ an equation of state with a first-order phase
transition. For low net baryon density, the entropy density exhibits a jump at
the phase boundary. However, the excitation function of the specific entropy
per net baryon, S/A, does not reflect this jump. This is due to the fact that
for final states (of the compression) in the mixed phase, the baryon density
\rho_B increases with \sqrt{s}, but not the temperature T. Calculations within
the three-fluid model show that a large fraction of the entropy is produced by
nuclear shockwaves in the projectile and target. With increasing beam energy,
this fraction of S/A decreases. At \sqrt{s}=20 AGeV it is on the order of the
entropy of the newly produced particles around midrapidity. Hadron ratios are
calculated for the entropy values produced initially at beam energies from 2 to
200 AGeV.
