Conditional Processing for Tailoring Recipe Documentation

Conditional processing in DITA is a powerful tool for tailoring recipe documentation to accommodate different cuisines, dish variations, and dietary requirements. It allows you to create a single source of content that can be selectively included or excluded based on specific conditions, ensuring that the documentation is highly adaptable and relevant to various culinary needs.

Customization for Dietary Preferences

With conditional processing, you can address diverse dietary preferences such as vegan, gluten-free, or low-sodium options within the same recipe document. For instance, you can include specific ingredient alternatives or preparation steps for each dietary choice, making it easy for users to follow recipes that align with their individual needs.

Regional Cuisine Variations

When documenting recipes for different cuisines, conditional processing allows you to provide variations based on regional differences. For example, you can offer alternative ingredients or cooking techniques that are traditional to a particular cuisine. This ensures that users can create authentic dishes while still following a single set of instructions.

Example:

Here’s an example of how conditional processing can be used in DITA for tailoring recipe documentation:

<recipe id=""sushi_roll"" cuisine=""japanese"">
  <title>Sushi Roll</title>
  <ingredient>Seaweed</ingredient>
  <ingredient>Sushi rice</ingredient>
  <conditional processing>
    <condition attribute=""cuisine"" operator=""equal"" value=""japanese""/>
    <content>
      <step>Place sushi rice on seaweed.</step>
      <step>Roll and slice into bite-sized pieces.</step>
    </content>
  </conditional processing>
  <conditional processing>
    <condition attribute=""cuisine"" operator=""not-equal"" value=""japanese""/>
    <content>
      <step>Use alternative ingredients and follow specific instructions for this cuisine.</step>
    </content>
  </conditional processing>

In this example, conditional processing is used to provide different preparation steps based on the cuisine attribute. For Japanese cuisine, it offers sushi roll instructions, while for other cuisines, it suggests alternative ingredients and instructions.