1.2 proposal (salvaged): content model for <figgroup>

[Deborah_Pickett@moldflow.com]

Oops, this one fell off the list.  I
raised it towards the end of the DITA 1.1 cycle and we agreed to push it
to 1.2.  Here it is:

DITA Proposed Feature # 12xxx

Extend the content model of figgroup to enable more specializations.

Longer description
The content model of figgroup is
title?, (figgroup | xref | fn | ph | keyword)*
which is sufficient to do the standard specializations of figgroup (syntaxdiagram and imagemap).

This proposal suggests a more generous content model for figgroup to support additional, as-yet-unknown specializations.

The suggested content model is
title?, (figgroup | %basic.ph; | %fig.cnt;)*
which introduces missed phrase-level elements (term, for example), block-level elements (p and lists), and specialization elements (data and foreign). Using this model, simpletable is allowed but table is not.
Note: The above content models take liberties with the formatting of content models and would need to be properly parameterized to permit specialization.
Scope

Trivial. Requires a small modification to the content model for figgroup in the DTD and Schema files.

Use Case
Example of secializations that would need a more general content model for figgroup:

• A taxonomy (tree) diagram where each node can contain block content.
• Any diagram where images are desired.
• Any specialization that requires the use of specialization-specific elements like data, foreign, state.

Technical
Requirements

Change the content model of figgroup in the DTDs and Schema. Existing specializations should be unaffected because the new content model is a strict superset of the old one.

Costs

TC will need to decide if this provides too much rope for users to misuse figgroup for evil.

Benefits

Benefits specializers who wish to create semantic specializations with a deep structure, such as those described in the use cases above. May provide a model for those wishing to create multi-image figures.

Time Required

One day to modify modules and to test.

--
Deborah Pickett
Deborah_Pickett@moldflow.com

dita-proposal-figgroup.xml