Can DITA support real-time updates and synchronization of culinary terminology databases?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Enabling real-time updates and synchronization of culinary terminology databases within DITA is a valuable capability for maintaining the accuracy and consistency of terminology across culinary documentation. This functionality ensures that any changes or additions to terminology are immediately reflected in all relevant content, enhancing the overall quality of documentation. Below are strategies for achieving real-time updates and synchronization:

Dynamic Linking to a Terminology Database

In DITA, you can dynamically link to a centralized terminology database that houses all culinary terms and their definitions. Rather than embedding definitions directly into topics, you reference them from the terminology database. This approach allows for real-time updates because any changes made to definitions in the database are instantly reflected in all linked content. It ensures that the documentation always uses the most up-to-date terminology.

Automated Synchronization

Automation plays a vital role in achieving real-time synchronization. DITA allows you to implement automated scripts or processes that periodically synchronize terminology databases with the documentation. These scripts can detect new terms, modified definitions, or deletions in the database and update the references in DITA topics accordingly. Automated synchronization ensures that your culinary terminology remains consistent and current.

Example:

Here’s an example of how dynamic linking and automated synchronization can be implemented in DITA:


<topic id="recipe">
  <title>Classic Pasta Carbonara</title>
  <body>
    <p>To prepare <term href="terminology_database#carbonara">Carbonara</term>, follow these steps.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

<terminology_database id="terminology_database">
  <term id="carbonara">
    <title>Carbonara</title>
    <definition>Carbonara is a classic Italian pasta dish made with eggs, cheese, pancetta, and black pepper.</definition>
  </term>

In this example, the term “Carbonara” is dynamically linked from the terminology database. Any updates or changes to the “Carbonara” definition in the database will automatically propagate to all topics that reference it, ensuring real-time synchronization.