This presentation is a basic overview of Darwin Information Typing Architecture, commonly known as DITA-XML. This presentation will be a great help for beginners in the field of structured technical writing.

1. Darwin Information Typing Architecture
(DITA-XML)
SEPTEMBER 2022
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2. Agenda
1. What is DITA?
2. Why DITA?
3. Sample topic structure
4. Phased approach to DITA migration
5. Demonstration of the authoring environment
6. Questions
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3. What is DITA?
DITA=Darwin Information Typing Architecture
DITA is an XML architecture for creating and publishing
information, especially technical information.
DITA is based on several key principles of authoring and XML:
1. Topic-based information
2. Information types and domains
3. Structural integrity
4. Semantic markup
5. Separation of content from presentation
6. Separation of content (topics) from context (maps)
7. Extensibility and customizability
8. Reuse
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4. Topic-based information
A topic is the smallest independently maintainable unit of
content.
Topics must be able to stand alone so that they can be
understood when they are encountered out of context, for
example when a user finds the topic through search, an index, or
by following a link.
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5. Information types and domains
Each information type:
1. Represents one type of content that we create at a topic level
2. Has a specific intent
3. Comprised of a series of content elements in a prescribed order.
Domains are kinds of content within topics. For example, there’s
a group of DITA elements concerned with user interfaces
(uicontrol, wintitle), and another concerned with programming
(such as codeph).
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6. Structural integrity
1. Content is guaranteed to have the structure stipulated by the
Document Type Definition (DTD).
2. Writers can quit worrying about structural consistency that the DTD
already ensures.
3. Documents that are handed off from one writer to another will have
better structure.
4. Automated production tools become much less likely to produce
unacceptable results.
5. Transformation to other document types or data formats becomes
much easier.
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7. Semantic markup
1. DTDs can express the semantics of a writing methodology
through element naming and element content rules.
2. Such a DTD shifts the focus of the writing effort from
presentation to the underlying semantics of the content.
3. This shift in focus can enhance a writer's ability to create
content that more closely adheres to the intent of the writing
methodology.
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8. Separation of content from presentation
1. Content is easier to include in multiple information products.
2. Presentation is out of the way until it is needed.
3. Presentation does not interfere with localization during the
translation process.
4. Vendor independence; no conversion required to move to
another vendor.
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9. Separation of content from context
Because topics are written to be read in various contexts, they are most
helpful if we can factor out any context-specific elements (such as links to
other topics) that might not be appropriate for all contexts.
This separation lets us quickly update elements such as links and navigation
without having to edit the topics involved.
The separation of content from context becomes particularly important in a
component-oriented environment, where different products share standard
components.
Context may vary depending not only on the product but alsoon other
considerations, such as delivery format or audience.
The DITA Map feature supports the flexible development of output
structures and definition of topic relationships.
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10. Extensibility and customizability
DITA can be extendedby defining new information types or
domains.
We add new information types or domains through a DITA
feature called specialization, which extends existing types or
domains by adding to their hierarchy.
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11. Reuse
Reuse allows you to create a chunk of content and reuse that content in
multiple topics, DITA maps, or patterns, even across several projects. A
reusable piece of content can be a component with numerous topics, a
single topic, or a content element.
Reuse in DITA has the following benefits:
1. Simplifies and reduces the time required for content maintenance when the source
content is modified.
2. Eliminates the possibility of contradictory information in documentation caused by
inconsistently applied updates.
3. Enhances usability and user comprehension with more standardized wording.
4. Reduces localization costs with fewer words to translate.
You can also incorporate content from other documentationsets if those
other projects are in DITA.
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12. Why DITA?
1. DITA is quickly becoming the standard in the information
development community.
2. DITA will allow us to support project requirements better than our
existing tools.
3. DITA provides a standard set of DTDs but is extensible.
4. Tools vendors build support for DITA into their products (authoring,
CMS, etc.)
5. Because there is a lot of community support for DITA, there’s a
new level of collaboration emerging. Companies are contributing
their DITA specializations and plugins, and others are contributing
ideas and samples of how they use it.
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13. Questions?
For DITA-XML queries, send an email to:
info@metapercept.com
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