DITA XML provides a robust framework for managing variations in content structure and layout when creating food service documentation for different languages. This capability is crucial for ensuring that the documentation not only accommodates linguistic differences but also cultural preferences and formatting standards specific to each language. Here’s how DITA enables this flexibility:

Conditional Text

In DITA, conditional text allows content creators to include or exclude specific sections of content based on conditions defined in the document’s metadata. This feature can be leveraged to address variations in content structure. For instance, a recipe document may include a section on wine pairings for French cuisine, but this section can be conditionally excluded when the document is intended for an audience with different culinary traditions.

Localization Attributes

Another approach involves using localization attributes within DITA XML. Metadata attributes can be applied to elements like titles, paragraphs, and lists to specify language-specific formatting or styling instructions. For example, the same recipe document can use localization attributes to control font size, alignment, or even ingredient list formatting based on the target language’s typographic conventions.

Example:

Here’s an example demonstrating the use of conditional text and localization attributes in DITA XML:

<topic id="spaghetti_recipe">
  <title>Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe</title>
  <metadata>
    <language>en-US</language>
  </metadata>
  <content>
    <p>This is a classic Italian recipe for Spaghetti Carbonara...</p>
    <p conkeyref="condition_french">For a French twist, you can add a touch of cream...</p>
    <ul conkeyref="condition_french">
      <li>Ingredients:...</li>
      <li>Instructions:...</li>
    </ul>
  </content>
  <conbody>
    <condition id="condition_french">
      <topicmeta>
        <localization conref="french_attributes.xml"/>
      </topicmeta>
    </condition>
  </conbody>

In this example, conditional text is used to include a French variation in the recipe, and localization attributes are applied through a separate file (“french_attributes.xml”) to control formatting and styling specific to the French version.