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DITA authoring concepts
Moving from style-based authoring to a structured authoring methodology such as DITA requires a radically different approach to writing.

Introduction
Information types and topics
Topics are the building blocks of modular documents, and organising topics by semantic information types is one of the architectural features of DITA.
DITA map files
Syntax and mark-up
Language and punctuation
Graphics and figures
Cross-referencing
Cross-references are a means of binding individual topics into a coherent and navigable document.
Content re-use
Metadata, conditional processing, and indexing
The DITA documentation process
DITA authoring concepts
Moving from style-based authoring to a structured authoring methodology such as DITA requires a radically different approach to writing.
- Introduction to DITA
  DITA is an XML standard, an architectural approach, and a writing methodology, developed by technical communicators for technical communicators.
- Distinction between format and style, and data and metadata
  In DITA, format has a different meaning to style. Likewise, the meanings of data and metadata are very different. These distinctions in meaning are important to understanding the broader concept of the separation of content and form.
- Specialisation
  Specialisation allows you to construct your own types of documents without losing the benefits of working within a DITA framework; in particular, you can maintain interchangeability.
- Generalisation
  When information in a specialised information type needs to be converted into the information type from which it was specialised, the process is known as generalisation.
- Constraints
  The constraints mechanism in DITA allows the use of elements and attributes in an information type to be restricted without needing to create a full specialisation. Constraints aim to simplify the authoring process by reducing the complexity of an information type.

DITA authoring concepts

Moving from style-based authoring to a structured authoring methodology such as DITA requires a radically different approach to writing.

DITA is an open content standard that defines a common structure for content that promotes the consistent creation, sharing, and re-use of content.
Ann Rockley