Archive - 2008

Supported languages

The DITA standard does not place limitations on what languages are supported. The only limitations are those placed by the tool or vendor you are using for DITA support.

One example of language support from tools is with generated text - for example, a caption that automatically begins with "Table #" before or after your table.

Another form of language support is in the actual translation of content - if you use a vendor to translate your content, then they will generally support translating to a specific set of languages.

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Getting started as cheaply as possible

Eliot Kimber suggested some low-cost (if not free) setups for DITA - and others commented on the dita-users mailing list.

A zero-cost option, with nothing to install, to get you familiar with editing DITA Topics and DITA Maps, is to join DITA Users. You use the browser-based DITA Storm editor or the desktop <oXygen/> XML editor with WebDAV access to author structured content in your own online workspace folder.

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Stem sentences

Stem sentences in technical communication have long been considered a standard practice to introduce new content, especially steps in a task. The task stem sentence, generally consisting of a partial sentence such as “To start the machine:” is not supported by any explicit DITA element in the DITA Task information type.

The question is: Should DITA include a stem sentence element in the Task information type?

[By the way, that was a stem sentence.]

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About Processing

Hello, I have created a dita file with ditamap, 2 topics and a concept. All is validated well; point is how shall I see the output; I use xmetal 5 open the ditamap there add files and then build output into chm. Thanks In Advance

Omer

Writing First DITA Topic

Hello, I am using Oxygen Xml editor to write Dita files. I have started writing a new chapter from a book and I have written a dita topic first. how would I be able to view it in the internet explorer or in any other output as a final outcome. Also I would be glad if I can be with some good techniques. Thanks In Advance
Omer

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