The document discusses strengths and weaknesses of adopting the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). It outlines some of DITA's benefits such as supporting single sourcing, reuse, and semantic markup. However, it also notes challenges with DITA being both too restrictive and flexible for some users. The document provides context on what DITA is and is not, and manages expectations for how DITA should be viewed and implemented.

1. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 1
DITA Adoption:
Strengths and Weaknesses
JoAnn Hackos
President
Comtech Services Inc.
Stan Doherty
Manager
SimpliVity Corporation

2. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 2
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. . . Spanning All Industries
• Aerospace
• Associations
• Defense
• Distribution
• Education
• Financial
• Government
• Libraries
• Life Sciences
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• Reference
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• Societies
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• STM
• Technology
• Telecommunications
• Universities
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5. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 5
Today’s speakers
• JoAnn Hackos
• Chair, OASIS DITA Adoption TC
• Co-chair, OASIS DITA Technical
Communication Subcommittee
• President, Comtech Services
• Stan Doherty
• Co-chair, OASIS DITA Technical
Communication Subcommittee
• Manager, SimpliVity Corporation

6. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 6
• Increasing the value of your
information
Since 1978, Comtech has provided
outstanding services in five major
areas:
• Content management solutions
• Information management
• Structured information design
• Industry and user research
• Education and training
We focus on the philosophy of
managing content effectively –
• Business planning
• Requirements development and
vendor selection
• Reuse strategies
• Information architecture
• User studies
• Minimalism
• Process redesign
• Implementation planning
• Leadership and change
management
The Comtech global team is led by
Dr. JoAnn Hackos and Dr. Bill Hackos

7. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 7
A small sample of Comtech customers
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

8. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 8
Who has opinions about DITA?
• OASIS DITA Committee members
• XML tools vendors
• DITA consulting and conversion specialists
• Experienced information architects
• Experienced technical writers/translators/trainers
• Evaluators / testers
• Competitors
• New users
• Former users
• Critics
DITA Spec 1.0

9. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 9
What are they saying?
DITA Spec 1.0
• "Here's my card. When you get into DITA for six months and
conclude that you need to get out, call me." MadCap Flare Consultant
• "DITA is so amazingly flexible, it's hard to know where to start
using it." Deborah Femia, SimpliVity
• "Markdown, in contrast [to DITA], is much simpler and more
enjoyable to work in. To set off code, you surround it with
`backticks`. If you like working in text file formats, Markdown is a joy
to use. Shouldn't writers, who spend so much time developing
content, enjoy the format and syntax they're writing in?" Tom Johnson,
"10 Reasons For Moving Away From DITA"

10. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 10
What are they saying?
DITA Spec 1.0
• "The trial participants were well aware of this history or resistance
[to new tools] and thus saw usability as a key factor in persuading
members of the writing team of the benefits of adopting a particular
CMS and XML editor. A system that was too complex and hard to
use would dissuade members from adopting the system for use in
completing day-to-day tasks." Rebekka Andersen, "The Diffusion of Content
Management Technologies"
• "DITA is reliable if the structure is reliable. The team has to be
strong and have a fail proof structure for their content." Alisa Ali, Blog
"DITA" (2015)
• I believe that, at best, DITA fulfills a very specific niche in technical
communications and that it isn't the one-ring solution that many in
the field have been claiming." drugstoreblonde in Tom Johnson (2015)

11. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 11
What are they saying?
DITA Spec 1.0
• "DITA is not for the semi-lone writer. It's a great answer for large
documentation groups who must share and reuse documentation,
publish the same content in multiple formats, and localize in many
languages." Nathalie Laroche in Tom Johnson (2015)
• "The risk of DITA is fine when there is . . . real need for reuse, when
translation savings can't be garnered by a simpler alternative like
DocBook XML or MadCap Flare, when you absolutely need to
enforce strict information typing on writers. The problem is that
nearly all outfits that are adopting DITA do not have real
justification." Yappa in "Focus on Readers" Blog
• "Delivering the right content in the right format to the right people at
the right time means that if a letter to your gran includes bullet
points, you're doing it wrong." Daniel Friedman in techwr-l.com discussion

12. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 12
Challenges
• How can DITA be simultaneously too
restrictive and too flexible?
• How can it be a "standard" if everyone
implements it so differently?
• How do we manage expectations about it?
What is DITA anyway?

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What is DITA?
Darwin: DITA uses the
principles of inheritance for
specialization
Information Typing: DITA is
designed for topic-based
technical information based on
an information architecture of
concept, task, and reference
Architecture: DITA provides
the framework for the
development of an enterprise
Information Model

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DITA at OASIS
2002–-DITA
Technical
Committee
formed at
OASIS
2004—DITA
design
released to
OASIS by
IBM
2005—DITA
1.0
Specification
released
2010—DITA
1.2
Specification
released
2015—DITA
1.3
Specification
released
DITA is a well-established XML-based standard for the
development of technical and business content worldwide.
Hundred of organizations in multiple content areas have adopted
DITA.

15. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 15
What is DITA exactly?
• DITA is an architecture for creating topic-
oriented, information-typed content that can
be reused and single-sourced in a variety of
ways
• It is also an architecture for creating new topic
types and describing new information
domains based on existing types and domains
• DITA is not just another tool but an
international standard to support
structured authoring and reuse in any
technical domain
DITA Spec 1.0

16. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 16
Industries using DITA
From Keith Schengili-Roberts,
March 2012
For updates, see ditawriter.com

17. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 17
DITA Strengths
• Based on years of research in information design
• Topic-based approach with key information types
• Supports single sourcing and content reuse
• Supports semantic markup of content
• Produces a database of content elements
• Supported by increasingly sophisticated tools
• Developed by a community of information developers,
open to anyone interested in getting involved
• Supported by a community of experts

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Benefits for business
• More opportunities for standardized, consistent content
at the source
• Author templates
• Author terminology database
• Consistent style
• Reusable topics and content chunks
• More consistent branding of content
• Customized and personalized content for customers
• Customized, branded look-and-feel for partners and
multiple brands

19. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 19
Benefits for localization
• More reliable use of translation memory
• Reuse of previously approved translated
topics and content chunks
• Better schedules, less chaos at the end
• Reduced time and cost of production in
multiple languages
• More languages and greater customization
and personalization for global audiences

20. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 20
More benefits for localization
• Topics approved and ready for localization
sooner – faster
• Only new or changed topics to be localized
• Topics reused in multiple contexts, reducing
duplication or near-duplication
• Structured authoring provides more
opportunities to control source language

21. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 21
Benefits for production
• Topics assembled into DITA maps
• Automated production of mapped content into
multiple media – PDF, HTML, Help, and more
• Styles added after topics are assembled
• No formatting of the XML source

22. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 22
Benefits for Collaboration
• Move toward DITA constraints and
specializations to simplify authoring
• Move toward a Lightweight
implementation of DITA to simplify
authoring
• Writing in something other than XML
• Allow more participants in the
information-development process

23. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 23
So – Need to Set Expectations
If you see DITA as ... You expect it to be . . .
A tool (or toolset) General-purpose shrink wrap software
A "do it all" suite Proprietary, integrated solution (for authoring,
processing, styling, and content management)
A standards-driven Foundation for customizing it to your needs
framework
A miracle cure for weak Prescriptive collection of templates that will
content enforce best-practice technical writing

24. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 24
Expectations: DITA Framework
Framework components:
1. OASIS XML spec and grammar
2. Authoring tools
3. Processing tools
4. Content management tools
5. Community best practices
for implementation
OASIS XML
AUTHORING
PROCESSING
CONTENT
MANAGEMENT

25. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 25
Expectations: Implementation
What is involved with a DITA implementation?
OASIS XML
AUTHORING
PROCESSING
CONTENT
MANAGEMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
Technology decisions:
Design/IA decisions:
• XML editor
• Processing framework
• Transform types (styling)
• Content management
• Build integration
• Content conversion tools
• Reuse strategy / guidelines
• Linking strategy / guidelines
• Referencing standards
• Filtering/flagging guidelines
• Metadata strategy / guidelines
• Training materials and support
• L10N management strategy

26. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 26
What about multiple DITA implementations?
OASIS XML
AUTHORING
PROCESSING
CONTENT
MANAGEMENT
ENTERPRISE CO.
Technology decisions:
Design/IA decisions:
• XML editor
• Processing framework
• Transform types (styling)
• Content management
• Build integration
• Content conversion tools
• Reuse strategy / guidelines
• Linking strategy / guidelines
• Referencing standards
• Filtering/flagging guidelines
• Metadata strategy / guidelines
• Training materials and support
• L10N management strategy
STARTUP CO.
BLOG/WEB SITE
MEDICAL CO.
GOVERNMENT
Expectations: Implementation

27. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 27
Expectations: Content Migration
How does content quality affect migration?
IMPLEMENTATION
Technical quality/completeness:
Information architecture:
• User guides
• Help system content
• API/CLI documentation
• Installation / deployment guides
• System installation / setup guides
• Troubleshooting guides
• Topic-level chunking / encapsulation??
• Information typing ??
• Goal- or task-oriented focus ??
• Minimalist content development ??
• Minimal in-line cross-references??
• Effective workflows and overall logic ??
• Support for L10N ??

28. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 28
Be Smart – Get Engaged
Leverage available support – avoid soft spots
Available support:
• DITA 1.3 Spec for XML experts, IAs
• DITA Adoption Whitepapers
• Community!!!
• dita.xml.org
• Plug-in and extension developers
• Yahoo DITA Users
• DITA conferences
• DITA user groups
• DITA tools vendors
• Migration consultants
• Conversion consultants
Known soft spots:
• DITA 1.3 Spec for non-experts
• DITA Adoption Whitepapers
• DITA compliance suite
• Robust and/or comprehensive
sample implementations
• Community-developed "skins"
or design templates for sexy PDF
and HTML5 output

29. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 29
Be Smart – Get Engaged
Leverage available support – avoid gaps
Available support:
• DITA 1.3 Spec for XML experts, IAs
• DITA Adoption Whitepapers
• Community!!!
• dita.xml.org
• Plug-in and extension developers
• Yahoo DITA Users
• DITA conferences
• DITA user groups
• DITA tools vendors
• Migration consultants
• Conversion consultants
Known gaps/confusions:
• DITA 1.3 Spec for non-experts
• DITA Adoption Whitepapers
• DITA compliance suite
• Robust and/or comprehensive
sample implementations
• Community-developed "skins"
or design templates for sexy PDF
and HTML5 output
DITA ?
NO
DITA ?

30. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 30
Resources online
• Download the DITA toolkit
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/dita-ot/
• Talk to others about DITA
• Join the dialog on the DITA forum –
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dita-users/
• Research more about DITA
• OASIS – http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/dita
• Cover pages – http://xml.coverpages.org/dita.html
• DITA on OASIS – http://dita.xml.org
• Comtech DITA website -- http://comtech-
serv.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25

31. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 31
Get in touch with us
• Joann.hackos@comtech-serv.com
• stan@modularwriting.com
• Markgross@dclab.com

32. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 32
Center for
Information-Development
Management
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33. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 33
CIDM Conference

34. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 34
Upcoming
Workshops
• DITA Boot Camp – Dawn Stevens
February 29th – March 4th Renton, WA (Seattle area)
• Content Management Strategies – JoAnn Hackos
March 11th Sydney, Australia
• Minimalism: Creating Information People Really Need – JoAnn
Hackos
March 14th – 15th Sydney, Australia
• Advanced Reuse Strategies – Dawn Stevens
April 21st – 22nd Kings Langley, United Kingdom
• Applying Agile Project Management to Information Development –
Dawn Stevens
May 10th – 11th Atlanta, GA

35. © 2016 Comtech Services, Inc. 35
Upcoming Webinars
• Hide and Go Seek: Taxonomy and Delivery
March 9th
Presented by Dawn Stevens, Comtech Services & Joe Gelb, Suite Solutions
• Implementing Content Strategy through Collaboration
April 19th
Presented by Nenad Furtula, Bluestream and Galyna Key, Datix
www.InfoManagementCenter.com/eve
nts.webinars