How DITA changed the
TechComm Landscape
Julio J. Vazquez
What I’ll cover
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Some history
The role of SGML
Structured authoring
Topic-based and task-based
The role of XML
How DITA differs from XML
Before and after DITA (the evolution)
Pushing boundaries
What’s on the horizon?
Some history
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Typewriters
ISIL
GML
Word/Desktop Publishers
SGML
Structured Authoring
XML
DITA
The role of SGML
• Added structural semantics to
information
• Built monolithic structures
• Supported narrative authoring
• Defined a way to present semantics in
output
Structured Authoring
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Basis of information architecture
Plan entire structure
Building blocks for larger constructs
Focus on smaller units
Assemble larger documents from
blocks
• Reuse the units when possible
Topic-based and Task-based
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Basically similar
Topics come from plan
Plan may not reflect user tasks
Task-based starts with how to do
Related information grows from tasks
Unrelated information unnecessary
The role of XML
• XML describes information
• Each piece of information is a type of
something
• Enforces a simple structure
• Allows transforms to other types of
coding (text, HTML)
• Has a querying language
• Does not require any descriptor
• Good for programming data
How DITA differs from XML
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Designed for documentation
Supports topic-based writing
Defines a reuse implementation
Structure and processing description
Defines webbing
Defines interfaces with non-DITA
information
• Defines an extension mechanism
Before and after DITA (the evolution)
Before
After
We told readers how things
worked.
We tell users how to use things.
We wrote information linearly.
We write individual units as
needed.
All information was part of a
book.
All information comprise topics
to be used wherever needed.
Technical Communicators were
regarded as necessary evils that
were lower in the product
development food chain.
Technical Communicators are
product development partners
to be involved in all phases of
the product to ensure usercentered products
Before and after DITA (the evolution)
Before
After
Technical communicators just
passed information from
developers to consumers.
Technical communicators drive
information design and delivery
based on consumer needs.
Good English skills, knowledge
of DTP tools, and some
technical background needed.
Information analysis,
information structure, reuse
design, good English skills,
reporting skills, minimalism,
knowledge of XML, and
understanding of singlesourcing.
Pushing boundaries
• Specializations
– Learning
– Hardware
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Taxonomy
DITA Wiki
Quark Word Plug-in
DITA with video (MPEG-7)
What’s on the horizon
• Technical Committees
– Business
– Pharma
– Publications?
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DITA to WebHelp
More multimedia
DITA Ecosystem
Workflow management
DITA as part of products