Re: [dita-comment] Classification domain and classification map: DITA TC is considering removing this from DITA 2.0

[Shane Taylor <shane@taylortext.com>]

FWIW, my team is currently building an implementation of the classification domain to support adding classification metadata to built HTML topics. I agree that the current specification is imperfect, but I think there's enormous value is systematized metadata both for filtering and retrieval.

The current lack of support might be more reflective of the difficulty of this challenge and the lack of a unified standard for outputting classification metadata than the lack of value. I would hypothesize that were the DITA-OT to support a basic implementationâand the current proposals that reduce complexity of the classification domain would help with thisâthat others might be able to build support for specific implementations.

If there's interest, we might be able to contribute a baseline of support back to the DITA-OT.

Ideas to consider for spec changes/simplification:

• move topicsubject into topicmeta
• remove subjectref; allowing multiple topicsubject elements should be sufficient
  

Shane Taylor

On Tue, Jan 4, 2022 at 1:39 PM Kristen James Eberlein <kris@eberleinconsulting.com> wrote:

The DITA TC is considering removing the classification domain and the classification map from DITA 2.0. The reasons why we are considering this:

• The classification domain and the classification are little-used.
• They are not supported by any out-of-the box processor or rendering engine.
• The elements in the domain are difficult for authors to use.
• The elements in the domain are poorly specified, and the spec contains no processing expectations for how applications could build support for the domain
  

If we remove it, we will make the classification domain available in our OASIS Open GitHub repository so that folks who are currently using it can integrate it into a custom document-type shell.

We also are considering replacing the domain with a single attribute that authors could specify on a <topicref> element to indicate that certain subjects apply to a topic and its children.

The DITA TC welcomes feedback. If you are using the classification domain/classification map, let us know.

--
Best,
Kris

Kristen James Eberlein
Chair, OASIS DITA Technical Committee

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