DITA is an open-source technical documentation standard, a subset of XML that is designed for use in writing and publishing technical documentaiton. One of the big strengths of DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture, to give it its full name) is the power of single-sourcing. You can write one master document that uses conditional text, and you can output to multiple formats. So for example, you could write a DITA document explains to users how to use a computer peripheral. There may be slight differences between setting it up to work with an Apple Mac, and setting it up to work with a PC. With DITA, you could describe both and use conditional text. And then, at publishing time, say to the system "please generate for me a user manual in PDF format for PC users". Or you could push a different button, and generate a PDF aimed at Mac users. Or maybe output the same material to an online Help system, or to HTML for use on your website, or to XML for use in your call centre database, or..... I have seen DITA in use, and it is impressive stuff.
The UK chapter of the Society for Technical Communication is organising a two-day introduction to DITA in Manchester, England on 10th and 11th November 2007.
The Saturday morning (10th November) offers a high-level introduction to DITA, to the costs and benefits of rolling out a DITA implementation. We'll be guided through this by Indi Liepa of Nokia, who led the DITA implementation in her country and has worked with DITA-based documentation for three years now. And we'll hear from a leading tools vendor on the financial return on investment of implementing the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA).
The Saturday afternoon's DITA workshop sessions will explore one of DITA's secret weapons: Specialisation. Out of the box, the open-source DITA system does what it says on the tin, to quote the British TV advert. But it can do more.... so much more. Using DITA specialisation, you can expand the language, define new ways of doing things in DITA, and still remain faithful to the DITA ethos. Alan Houser will lead us through this, drawing on his many years of experience as a FrameMaker trainer, XML trainer, and member of the OASIS committee that draws up and defines the DITA specification. This is a unique opportunity to explore this exciting field under the direction of a leading expert in the field who is also a qualified and highly respected trainer.
The UK chapter of the Society for Technical Communication is organising a two-day introduction to DITA in Manchester, England on 10th and 11th November 2007.
The Saturday morning (10th November) offers a high-level introduction to DITA, to the costs and benefits of rolling out a DITA implementation. We'll be guided through this by Indi Liepa of Nokia, who led the DITA implementation in her country and has worked with DITA-based documentation for three years now. And we'll hear from a leading tools vendor on the financial return on investment of implementing the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA).
The Saturday afternoon's DITA workshop sessions will explore one of DITA's secret weapons: Specialisation. Out of the box, the open-source DITA system does what it says on the tin, to quote the British TV advert. But it can do more.... so much more. Using DITA specialisation, you can expand the language, define new ways of doing things in DITA, and still remain faithful to the DITA ethos. Alan Houser will lead us through this, drawing on his many years of experience as a FrameMaker trainer, XML trainer, and member of the OASIS committee that draws up and defines the DITA specification. This is a unique opportunity to explore this exciting field under the direction of a leading expert in the field who is also a qualified and highly respected trainer.
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