DITA -- How do you know if you're doing it right?

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3 total messages Started by R._VanDyke Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:12

#549

Author: R._VanDyke
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:12

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Is there a "known good" way to evolve into DITA-based information development?

We're in the process of piloting DITA-based information development, and so are beginning by creating or updating smaller, more clearly bounded projects.

But there seems to be a paucity of truly informative, coherent "How To" documents about developing DITA topic-based information sets: Most information is either too general (all context, no detail) or too specific (all detail, no context).

The most useful information I've found about DITA invariably discusses a comfortingly small number of Topic elements. But even when limited to
"Show Valid Elements...", the FrameMaker 8 Element Catalog lists an overwhelming number of choices, most of which we DITA newbies have never heard of.

We all are both willing and able to learn as we go. But we'd also like to avoid learning painful lessons caused by errors of either omission or commission.

Any suggestions, etc.?

Cheers & thanks for your help,
Riley

Re: DITA -- How do you know if you're doing it right?

#550

Author: Scott_Prentice
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:45

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Hi Riley...

I think you should start by getting ComTech's "Introduction to DITA" book ..

 <http://www.comtech-serv.com/dita2.shtml>

It's not Frame-specific but should give you a solid understanding of the DITA basics.

If you want to ask DITA+Frame-specific questions, you should post them to the framemaker-dita Yahoo group.

Nitty-gritty DITA structure questions should go to the dita-users Yahoo list. It *is* OK to ask seemingly naive questions there .. the people on that list are very helpful and knowledgeable. If you do have a question about "proper" structure or use, that is the place to go. Also .. read the archives of this list, you'll learn lots.

A good way to get started is by looking at other DITA-sourced documentation .. caveat being, you may be looking at DITA that's not really "proper" .. but it's better than nothing. There are some sample files with the DITA Open Toolkit .. and I've recently added a page to ditamap.com where I'm collecting samples of DITA-sourced docs on the web. Some of these docs actually include the source ..

 <http://ditamap.com/ditadocs.php>

Also .. since you're in the area, you might consider attending our monthly Silicon Valley DITA interest group (SVDIG) meetings. Next month is a presentation all about the shortdesc element! :)

 <http://svdig.ditamap.com/>

Cheers!

...scott

Re: DITA -- How do you know if you're doing it right?

#551

Author: R._VanDyke
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:14

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Scott:

Thanks. We're in the process of collecting a variety of resources in the hopes we can at least conform to the central tenet of the Tech Writer's Oath: First do no harm...

Cheers & thanks 'gain,
Riley

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