DITA-Word

DITA-Word is a MS Word Add-In that provides a system for users of MS Word to leveraging the advantages of topic oriented writing in simple ways.

One example is the storage of research performed using the World Wide Web. Staring with a subject, a user would build a set of topic that corresponds to different facets of the research. Text, links, images and even links to downloaded files can be organized and described in the context of topic hierarchies. At any point these anthologies can be published to deliverables like HTMLHelp, xhtml, pdf, and more.

Topic oriented writing is not a new idea. The construction of information needed to describe complex ideas can be separated into a set of related topics. When assembled by a map these topics represent the information needed to describe the subject idea. The advantage comes from having complete control over how the parts can be used, what they represent, and what they contain in a single storage location. The formatting and processing of this content is completely separated from the content so the final product can be many different things. Content is stored in DITA info-type files that have semantic structure and referenceable identifiers. This enables specific content contained in one DITA info-type file to be referenced for use in another DITA info-type file.

A DITA info-type file is synonymous with a topic file when talking about the base DITA information type called topic. In its most simple form a topic is a title and short description. A topic file is a specific kind info-type file used to store topic content.

A DITA map is used to build a hierarchical or relationship links between a set of info-type files that describe a particular subject. Information that is related to a principal topic, not by hierarchy, can be related by a link to specialized topics. The DITA architecture uses specialization to redefine the topic info-type into other info-types like task, reference, concept and any other user defined information types. These specialized info-types can be processed differently or the same as the base topic info-type to construct deliverables suited for the type of information being presented.

• The Prime Objective of DITA-Word
  “Keep things simple.”
• DITA Info-Type File
  A DITA info-type file is synonymous with topic or DITA file. A topic file is a specific kind info-type file used to store topic content.
• The Separation of Content from Formatting
  The separation of content from formatting is the key to obtaining the big three topic oriented writing advantages: 1) Single source, 2) Reuse and 3) Repurpose.
• Justifications for DITA-Word
  The decision to use a MS Word Add-In to demonstrate the power of the DITA architecture must be justified. The reason for this is that there are many feature rich XML editors on the market with some DITA support. Building another editor may seem redundant, but after reading this justifications for developing DITA-Word below, the reader should come to the realization that simple control mechanisms over content creation, cataloging, access, and delivery are key to information assent management.
• DITA-Word Starter Guide
  DITA-Word is distributed as a MS Word Add-In. It requires the proper installation of several programs, not least of which is MS Word 2003. With everything properly installed the Add-In can be set for global use by selecting the “Templates and Add-Ins…” command from the tools menu.
• DITA-OT Upgrade Process
  Description of procedure for changing the DITA-OT version used by DITA-Word.
• DITA - Fact Sheet
  The Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) is an XML-based, end-to-end architecture for authoring, producing, and delivering technical information. This architecture consists of a set of design principles for creating "information-typed" modules at a topic level and for using that content in delivery modes such as online help and product support portals on the Web
• DITA-Word Development
  The development process of DITA-Word is wrapped in layers of software technologies. At its core are XML and the DITA-OT implementation of best practice pattern architecture for information typing. Wrapped around this is the resulting capability associated with DITA, specialization and destination transformations. Outside this are tools to interact with all this DITA. DITA-Word leverages the windows API with VBA Word Add-in that augments the Word UI to open edit and save DITA files.