Bob,
I appreciate you pointing out the definition of topic used by Information Mapping, and I agree that DITA can model that use of “topic” if used appropriately.
And I also agree wholeheartedly that DITA is a TOOL, not a methodology. I think that is a crucial distinction missed by many who enter the DITA world without proper grounding in the principles of structured writing.
However, I will agree with Ms. Haworth that DITA does not make developing well-structured content particularly easy. But perhaps the blame for that is the tool-development
community. So many of the authoring tools seem to focus on topic writing but do not adequately provide the means for incorporating those topics into meaningful structure. Just supporting a DITA map view is not enough in my opinion.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m very happy to see Adobe’s commitment to supporting DITA authoring in FrameMaker (and I’m not saying that I think they haven’t
made mistakes, just that they seem to be making an honest effort).
Regards,
Mike
Mike Austin
Content Information Architect
AISG Information Development Systems & Methodologies
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Office +1 512 895 8910
mike.austin@freescale.com
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From: dita@lists.oasis-open.org [mailto:dita@lists.oasis-open.org]
On Behalf Of Bob Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 9:16 AM
To: Kristen James Eberlein
Cc: DITA TC
Subject: Re: [dita] DITA backlash
Hi Kris,
I think that Ms. Haworth has a different understanding of what a topic is supposed to be. She believes that a topic is a unit of presentation. I always go back to what Robert Horn says in Information Mapping. A topic is a unit of information that answers a
single question, or serves a single purpose, for the reader. This deeper meaning of what constitutes a topic is one that DITA models.
The other thing worth noting is that DITA is a tool. When that tool is used by people who do not understand the craft, bad things happen. There is a false expectation among many that DITA will turn a poor or marginal technical writer into a good one. DITA can
help in that process, but on its own it's not sufficient.
Best Regards,
On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 6:21 AM, Kristen James Eberlein <kris@eberleinconsulting.com> wrote:
http://focusonreaders.blogspot.ca/2012/07/case-study-dita-topic-architecture.html
--
Best,
Kris
Kristen James Eberlein
Principal consultant, Eberlein Consulting
Co-chair, OASIS DITA Technical Committee
Charter member, OASIS DITA Adoption Committee
www.eberleinconsulting.com
+1 919 682-2290; kriseberlein (skype)
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Bob Thomas
Skype: bob.thomas.colorado
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