Re: [dita] DITA Task model

[Andrzej Zydron <azydron@xml-intl.com>]

Hi Everyone,

This is also another good argument for DITA EDEN (Electronic 
Documentation Essential Norm) which is a core 100% compatible subset of 
DITA for normal human beings that do not go around with propellers on 
their heads but want a simple, usable DITA model.

Best Regards,

AZ

Ann Rockley wrote:
>
> I agree completely with these statements. One of the primary focus’ of 
> DITA is reuse and sharing. If we can’t share reusable content it 
> negates the value of the standard. If we expect organizations to have 
> an expert in XML to implement DITA we have lost them. One out of 10 of 
> the organizations we work with might possibly have someone who 
> understands XML, most do not.
>
> This is only the tip of the iceberg. If we go towards enterprise use 
> of DITA which could mean sharing of content between Tech Docs, 
> Training, Marketing, Customer Support or more it will never become a 
> realization if they cannot share.
>
> We are in fact creating silos again. And at minimum, we are moving 
> towards a situation where an organization has to constantly 
> re-engineer their content if they want to adopt the latest standard 
> and still continue to access their existing content.
>
> I am equally concerned. It has also raised a lot of flags in the work 
> we are doing in BusDocs.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* Joann Hackos [mailto:joann.hackos@comtech-serv.com]
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 24, 2009 9:38 AM
> *To:* DITA TC
> *Subject:* [dita] DITA Task model
>
> When was it decided that the original task model in DITA 1.1 would be 
> rewritten as a constraint of the general task model? I don’t recall 
> hearing any discussion of the impacts of such a rewrite. Instead of 
> being a specialization of topic, task is now a constraint of general 
> task. Why was this decision made and did anyone consider the 
> implications of the change from a specialization to a constraint?
>
> What is the full impact of the decision by someone by rewrite task? Is 
> task in DITA 1.2 full compatible with task in DITA 1.1? Will conrefs 
> written in DITA 1.1 task function properly in DITA 1.2 task? I really 
> would like an answer to the constraint decisions.
>
> Machinery task is also written as a constraint of the DITA 1.2 general 
> task. Is it also incompatible with either general or strict task?
>
> It appears that this means that an organization in which content is 
> shared among tasks must be extremely careful that only one task model 
> is used. Is that a correct assumption? Is DITA 1.2 task backward 
> compatible with DITA 1.1 task?
>
> I don’t think we can take this at all lightly. Despite Eliot’s 
> argument that you have to be an XML expert programmer to implement 
> DITA, that is not the reality in the user community. How will we 
> possibly communicate the enormous problems that will result if conrefs 
> no longer work? As the co-chair of the Adoption TC, I don’t even know 
> where to begin.
>
> The Arbortext decision to call general task “task” has revealed this 
> problem, which was actually quite fortuitous. Considering their 
> decision, was anyone from PTC aware of the problems that were going to 
> occur if adopters begin using more than one task model. The situation 
> in Arbortext Editor 5.4 is untenable, at least for all of my 
> community. As I understand it, if authors use task quite innocently in 
> 5.4 Out of the Box, they will invalidate all their conrefs already 
> developed in DITA 1.1. That’s a truly critical problem.
>
> To repeat, conrefs do not work between general task and task. Do they 
> work between task 1.1 (specialization) and task 1.2 (constraint)? Or 
> between machinery task and other tasks?
>
> I lost sleep last night stewing over this. It may cause more problems 
> among adopters than we will be able to handle.
>
> JoAnn
>

-- 
email - azydron@xml-intl.com
smail - c/o Mr. A.Zydron
	PO Box 2167
        Gerrards Cross
        Bucks SL9 8XF
	United Kingdom
Mobile +(44) 7966 477 181
FAX    +(44) 1753 480 465
www - http://www.xml-intl.com

This message contains confidential information and is intended only for
the individual named.  If you are not the named addressee you may not
disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.  Please notify the sender
immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and
delete this e-mail from your system.
E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as
information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive
late or incomplete, or contain viruses.  The sender therefore does not
accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this
message which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.  If verification
is required please request a hard-copy version. Unless explicitly stated
otherwise this message is provided for informational purposes only and
should not be construed as a solicitation or offer.


begin:vcard
fn;quoted-printable:Andrzej Zydro=C5=84
n;quoted-printable:Zydro=C5=84;Andrzej
email;internet:azydron@xml-intl.com
tel;work:+441494558106
tel;home:+441494532343
tel;cell:+447966477181
x-mozilla-html:FALSE
version:2.1
end:vcard