DITA: From Legacy to the Future

April 20

Presented by Bernard Aschwanden

Overview

This workshop is developed for people who need to learn about DITA and the basics of software tools that work with it. Get comfortable with the concepts and rules of DITA. Learn about DITA and how to plan and create maps and topics. Acquire initial hands-on experience to guide your understanding of some tools that work with DITA, from planning and prototyping to publishing and managing content in a CMS.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the DITA specification and the core set of elements it uses.
• Create Topic, Reference, Concept, and Task elements for use as stand-alone files or as part of a map document.
• Build DITA map documents.
• See how Adobe FrameMaker, JustSystems XMetaL, oXygen XML, Altova XMLSpy, and other tools build DITA files.
• Identify key issues to consider when implementing DITA and converting legacy content.

Session Summary

Part 1: Core Elements of DITA

Part 2: Manage Legacy Documentation

Part 3: A Practical Application of DITA

Part 4: Migrate and Create Content

DITA: An Introduction—Core Elements of DITA

Learn about what is behind DITA, how DITA works, and how a DITA-based publishing system can benefit you. Identify core elements of DITA and learn which ones you are likely to encounter every day. Once common elements are understood, you'll see that DITA provides guidance, not an arbitrary and strict workflow with no room for creativity. Tables, images, notes/warning, detailed tasks, and more are all supported by DITA.

DITA: An Introduction-Manage Legacy Documentation

Move from content that is not in a DITA compliant format and begin to reorganize it into topic-based material for conversion. Learn how to review existing material to ensure that the message you need to deliver is never lost, but the content is improved.

DITA: An Introduction—A Practical Application of DITA

Create and manage DITA content outside of a content management system by learning best practices related to the creation of content.

DITA: An Introduction—Migrate and Create Content

How do you rewrite content for compliance with DITA? Learn to use different software tools to both migrate content, and to create content. Identify relative strengths and weaknesses of tools and processes.