Adopting DITA

Mathew VargheseContent Architect, Citrix

Leaping Across the Chasm

Agenda

• Why DITA• Basics of DITA architecture• Content reuse with DITA• Semantic tagging and topic-based writing

Why DITA

It’s all about adoptability

the chasm

Think Information not Content

“Come at once. We have struck a berg.”

Content

KnowledgeContent is a symptom, not a solution!

Can your product sell itself?

Knowledge Stack

Interfaces

Processes and Tools

People

People Product Portals

Content Developers

Subject Matter Experts

DITA Building Blocks

TopicsConceptTaskReference

MapsDitamapBookmap

Core Reuse Features (1.1)

Conref

Ditamap

Ditaval

Ditamap

C

C

RT

TT T

Topic-level reuse

C

RT

T

DITAVAL

Topic-level reuse

Element Attribute Content

Conref

Element-level reuse

Element Conref Topic and location

Topic ID

Element ID

Reuse Scenarios

• Across releases• Across deliverables–Guides–Formats

• Across audiences• Across functions

Semantic Tagging and Topic-based Writing

• Get the specs• Develop your tagging scheme• Strengthen your analysis and design process• Tagging and editing

Get the Right Specs

• Language Specification• http://docs.oasis-open.org/dita/v1.1/langspec

/ditaref-type.html

• Architecture Specification• http://docs.oasis-open.org/dita/v1.1/archspec

/archspec.html

Semantic Tagging

Build your

tagging scheme

Analysis and Design

Design Walkthroughs

Topic Audits

Tagging and Editing

Editors are your greatest assets!

QUESTIONS