June 28, 2004 © 2004 IBM Corporation

The Lifecycle of DITA Content

The end-to-end processing of DITA content from information design to output delivery

Lifecycle of DITA Content © 2004 IBM Corporation2d

Agenda

Overview: Information Development Lifecycle and DITA – John Hunt, IBM

Case Study: DITA User’s Guide – Michael Priestley, IBM

Case Study: User Online Help for the end-user products – France Baril, IXIASOFT

Lifecycle of DITA Content © 2004 IBM Corporation3d

Information Development Lifecycle

DesignInformation

DevelopmentDelivery

Who

What

Information architect

Writer, editor Production specialist, Page designer

Illustrator, Indexer

Audience analysis, Scenarios, Task Analysis

Topic content, Metadata

Outputs: PDF, XHTML, Help, Translation packages…

When

Lifecycle of DITA Content © 2004 IBM Corporation4d

Design Phase: Information Model and Architecture

DitaMaps- Hierarchies-Rel Tables

Task Model:Identify tasks,

sequences, hierarchies,relate to user goals

Map other content:Concept, Reference

Audience Analysis:Experience Levels,

Roles, Responsibilities,

Skills

Usage Scenarios:Realistic, useful,

complete, specific,coordinated,

accurate

Task Analysis and Information Model

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Information Development Phase

WriteDITA Topics:

Task, Concept, Reference

Specialized types

Add Filters/FlagsMetadata attributes

.DITA topic files.DITAmaps

Indexing

Editing

Review

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Information Delivery PhaseEclipse help

JavaHelp

HTMLHelp

Web pages

Books

PDFtopics maps

Topics Maps Outputs

Produce outputs Package information for translation Validate content, adding copyrights and trademarks Add summary tables Implement page designs and styles

Lifecycle of DITA Content © 2004 IBM Corporation7d

Next – The Case Studies

DITA User’s Guide – Michael Priestley, IBM

Online Help for end-user products – France Baril, IXIASOFT

Lifecycle of DITA Content © 2004 IBM Corporation8d

Summary of Roles and Processes

TopicsMaps OutputsProcesses

DTDs

Type architect

WriterInformation architect

Build person Information designer

Design Develop Deliver

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User goals and user roles - a user-driven process

User goals Roles

Scenarios Personas

Tutorials andsamples

Skills

Information development

Task flows

Relationships

Concept map

Road maps

Role hierarchy

Dynamic help

Topics Role definitions

Elements Filter/flag

Informationmodel

Topic content

Scenariomaterials

Goal definition

Tutorial tests

Usability tests

Feedback

Tech support

User feedback

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Extending the process across component and product boundaries

Scenarios

Models

Content

Component

Scenarios

Models

Content

Component

Scenarios

Models

Content

Component

Scenarios

Models

Content

Product

Scenarios

Models

Content

Solution

Scenarios

Models

Content

Product