Can DITA be used for creating interactive telecom documentation, such as network configuration wizards?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) can indeed be used to create interactive telecom documentation, including network configuration wizards. DITA’s structured authoring approach and topic-based content organization make it suitable for developing dynamic and interactive content for various purposes, such as guiding users through complex network configurations.

Topic Modularity

One of the key strengths of DITA is its topic modularity. Telecom companies can create individual DITA topics for different configuration steps or tasks within a network configuration wizard. Each topic can contain specific instructions, options, and interactive elements. These topics can then be combined to create a seamless, step-by-step wizard that guides users through the configuration process.

Interactive Elements

DITA allows the inclusion of interactive elements within topics. For instance, telecom documentation can feature dropdown menus, checkboxes, radio buttons, and input fields that users can interact with to select options and input data. JavaScript can be used in conjunction with DITA to enhance interactivity, enabling dynamic content updates based on user selections.

Example:

Here’s a simplified example of how DITA can be used for an interactive network configuration wizard:


<topic id="network_config_wizard">
  <title>Network Configuration Wizard</title>
  <body>
    <step id="step1">
      <title>Step 1: Select Network Type</title>
      <instruction>Select the type of network you want to configure:</instruction>
      <dropdown>
        <option>Wired Network</option>
        <option>Wireless Network</option>
      </dropdown>
    </step>
    <step id="step2">
      <title>Step 2: Network Settings</title>
      <instruction>Configure network settings:</instruction>
      <input type="text" id="ssid" label="SSID" placeholder="Enter SSID" />
      <input type="text" id="password" label="Password" placeholder="Enter Password" />
    </step>
    <step id="step3">
      <title>Step 3: Review</title>
      <instruction>Review your configuration:</instruction>
      <button id="submit">Submit</button>
    </step>
  </body>
</topic>

This example represents a DITA topic for a network configuration wizard with three steps. Users can interact with dropdowns and input fields to configure their network settings. JavaScript can be added to handle user input and advance through the wizard.