@lockmeta on <topicmeta>

[Kristen James Eberlein <kris@eberleinconsulting.com>]

This is an attribute that we might want to consider for changes in DITA 2.0. Here what the DITA 1.3 spec says:

@lockmeta

By default, metadata in the map supplements or overrides metadata that is specified at the topic level, unless theÂ@lockmetaÂattribute of theÂ<topicmeta>element is set to "no". Allowable values are "yes", "no", andÂUsing the -dita-use-conref-target value.

A couple of things:

1. I'm not sure that we specify anywhere what our expectations for processors are about the differences between supplementing and overriding metadata.
2. The DITA 1.3 element reference topic for <topicmeta> is ambiguous, since it implies that navigation titles are metadata, but whether navigation titles specified in maps are used depends on whether @locktitle is set to "yes". (Does @lockmeta also have an effect on navigation titles?)
   

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Best,
Kris

Kristen James Eberlein
Chair, OASIS DITA Technical Committee
Principal consultant, Eberlein Consulting
www.eberleinconsulting.com
+1 919 622-1501; kriseberlein (skype)