DITA for Beginners Outline Why DITA Modularity Information

DITA for Beginners

Outline • • Why DITA? Modularity Information Typing Semantic Tagging Open Source Reuse What is DITA?

Why DITA • • • Modularity Information Typing Semantic Tagging Open Source Reuse

Modularity • Storing information in small self-contained modules/information structures • Earliest known methodology – STOP – Sequential Thematic Organization of Publications – topical units of discourse • Internet and Help systems are modular • Write and maintain a piece of information once • Makes information development efficient

Modularity • Not accepted in print-based documentation • “Document” is primary unit of information • DITA simplifies modularity for all delivery methods – Web, Help, and Print • Two main information structures: – Topics – Maps

Information Typing • Segmenting information based on its nature (and purpose) • People read manuals to satisfy specific needs: – How to – How it works – Facts

Information Typing • DITA defines 3 information types: – Task – Concept – Reference • DITA allows for the “evolution” of new information types • Enforcement of writing rules done through XML validation

Semantic Mark-up • Marking up text based on what sort of text it is NOT how it should look • Allows the separation of content and form • Key to achieving true single-sourcing • Challenges for technical communicators changing focus from form to content.

Open Source • DITA is a standard, not a product • Managed through a not-for-profit standard body called OASIS • To adopt DITA, users need authoring tool that supports the DITA standard • Dozens of authoring tools available • DITA is free, commercial DITA authoring tools are not

Reuse • WOOO – Write Once and Once Only • DITA has plenty of mechanisms for content reuse • Any type of DITA content fragment can be reused: – Paragraphs – Terms – Index Terms – Anything!

What is DITA • • Darwin Information Typing Architecture Methodology and an Open Standard Separates content and form Allows for technical writing best practices – Modularity – Single-sourcing – Content re-use