DITAworks Modeling

Complex DITA Specialization made easy with DITAworks

DITAworks provides extensive modeling features to allow the definition of project-specific, DITA-based documentation models (DITA specializations). The solution is not limited to design of base DITA information models, but also contains a set of extended modeling features that enable adaptation of DITA models to individual needs. This effectively turns the modeling module of DITAworks into visual DITA specialization tool.

The modeling components of DITAworks are divided into 2 packages:

• DITA Visual Specialization Manager. Enables management of DITA Specializations.
• Extended DITA Modeling Module. Enables configuration of DITAworks authoring and editorial tooling based on models defined in DITA Visual Specialization Manager.

DITA Visual Specialization Manager

Visual editors of Specialization Manager module help you to solve the complex tasks of DITA information modeling using a wizard-like approach. This module supports import of DITA specializations as well as export of managed specializations into DTD and XML Schema, thus allowing single sourcing for specializations (read more about this in our blog).

Specialization Manager manages your DITA model in the form recommended by DITA Specification, splitting it into structural modules, modules and infotypes (shell DTDs). Additionally to that, Specialization Manager provides an “integrated” view of elements of managed infotype where all elements are presented in one common tree and from there, the Information Architect can see the structure of the resulting XML. Visual editor also has a possibility to display differences of current specialization level from the previous one (showing all added, changed or removed elements etc.)

Overview of Visual DITA Specialization Manager features:

• Wizard-based Visual Editor for DITA specializations with support of structural, domain and attribute specializations (Infotype, Module, Domain)
• Import of existing specializations from DTD.
• DITA model validation. DITA models have to obey to certain rules defined in DITA Architecture. Specialization manager validates imported and managed models to according to these rules and reports errors.
• Export of managed specializations to DTD or XML Schema. Models are stored in DITAworks in form optimized for modeling. At any time the model can be exported to DTD or XML Schema form. In this way changed done on the model are automatically appearing in DTD and XML Schema without extra effort.
• Export of Specializations in form of DITA OT plug-in (beta). At any time the managed model can be exported as DITA Open Toolkit plug-in using convenient wizard.
• Integration with version control. You can manage your models in version control and track changes in collaborative environments.