Can DITA facilitate the reuse of visual assets across different IT documents?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Indeed, DITA plays a vital role in facilitating the reuse of visual assets across different IT documents. Visual assets, such as diagrams, illustrations, and images, are crucial in conveying complex IT concepts. DITA’s modular and structured approach to content creation provides an effective framework for the reuse of these assets, ensuring consistency and reducing redundancy.

Modular Asset Management

DITA allows visual assets to be managed as standalone objects, separate from the text. These assets can be stored in a central repository and linked to various documents. When an asset is needed in multiple documents, it can be reused by referencing it, rather than duplicating it. For instance, a network architecture diagram can be created as a standalone asset and referenced in different IT documents, ensuring that the same diagram is consistently used throughout the documentation set.

Version Control

Additionally, DITA provides version control for assets, ensuring that the most up-to-date visual content is used across documents. When an asset is updated, all references to that asset in various documents are automatically updated as well. This version control feature maintains accuracy and consistency in visual content across IT documentation, which is essential for clear communication.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA allows for the reuse of visual assets across IT documents:


<topic id="network_configuration">
  <title>Network Configuration</title>
  <body>
    <figure href="diagram-network-architecture.dita" />
    <p>Configure your network following the diagram above...</p>
  </body>

In this example, a DITA topic references a network architecture diagram using a figure element. The diagram is maintained as a standalone asset and can be reused in various IT documents, ensuring consistency and reducing duplication.