Version control and change tracking play a vital role in project management documentation when using DITA XML. These features enable mining organizations to maintain the accuracy, traceability, and integrity of their project documentation over time.

Version Control

With DITA, version control is implemented through metadata tags such as <version> and <last-updated>. These tags allow project managers and team members to track the version of a document and the date it was last updated. This information is invaluable for understanding the document’s evolution and ensuring that the latest version is being referenced and worked on.

Change Tracking

Change tracking is another critical aspect of project management documentation in DITA. It involves the use of features that highlight and record changes made to a document, such as revisions, additions, or deletions. This functionality is especially useful when multiple stakeholders collaborate on a document, as it provides a clear audit trail of who made what changes and when. It helps ensure accountability and transparency in the documentation process.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA facilitates version control and change tracking:

<project_plan id="project_plan_x">
  <title>Project Plan - Mining Project X</title>
  <version>2.0</version>
  <last-updated>2023-10-20</last-updated>
  <content>
    <section id="milestones">
      <title>Milestones</title>
      <revision version="1.1" date="2023-09-15">
        <author>Jane Smith</author>
        <change>Addition of new milestone.</change>
      </revision>
      <content>...
    </section>
    <!-- Other sections and content go here -->
  </content>

In this example, the DITA project plan includes version information, the date of the last update, and change tracking for a specific section (“Milestones”). The change tracking records the addition of a new milestone and attributes it to the author and date, providing a clear history of changes made to the document.