Are there standardized elements and attributes for managing metadata links in DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Managing metadata links in DITA XML involves using standardized elements and attributes designed to provide structured information about your content. These elements and attributes help enhance the accessibility and credibility of your documentation. Let’s delve into the standardized elements and attributes for managing metadata links in DITA.

1. Using <foreign> Element: The <foreign> element is commonly used to incorporate metadata or references from external sources. You can employ the “href” attribute to specify the source of the metadata. This element allows you to embed metadata information within your content, enhancing the context and referencing external resources. By standardizing this approach, DITA ensures consistency in managing metadata links.

Example:

Here is an example demonstrating the use of the <foreign> element to link to metadata in a DITA topic:


<topic>
  <title>Managing Metadata Links</title>
  <body>
    <p>Metadata can be found in <foreign href="metadata_source.xml">external sources</foreign>.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

2. Employing <ph> and <cite> Elements: When referencing metadata or external sources, DITA uses the <ph> and <cite> elements. The <ph> element marks the text you want to link, and the <cite> element provides information about the reference source. This structured approach enables DITA users to maintain consistent citation styles in their documentation, promoting a standardized and organized way of managing metadata links.

Example:

If you need to create a reference link to external metadata in your DITA topic, it might look like this:


<topic>
  <title>Creating Reference Links</title>
  <body>
    <p>For detailed information, see the <ph><cite href="reference_source.html">official documentation</cite></ph>.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

By adhering to these standardized elements and attributes, DITA ensures a consistent and structured approach to managing metadata links, thereby improving the quality and reliability of documentation.