Are there strategies for efficiently updating shared content across multiple telecom documents?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Efficiently updating shared content across multiple telecom documents is essential to maintain consistency and accuracy while reducing redundancy. In DITA XML, several strategies can be employed to achieve this goal.

Content Reuse

DITA promotes content reuse by allowing organizations to create and manage modular content components called “topics.” These topics can be shared across multiple documents, ensuring that any updates or revisions made to the source content automatically propagate to all instances where it’s used. This approach minimizes the effort required to update shared content and guarantees consistency throughout the documentation.

Key-based References

Key-based references in DITA XML provide a way to link content dynamically. Rather than copying and pasting content, key references allow documents to point to a central location where the content is maintained. When updates are necessary, they can be applied at the source, and all referencing documents will reflect the changes. This method is particularly useful for telecom companies managing technical specifications or standardized content across various product manuals.

Example:

Here’s an example demonstrating the use of key-based references in DITA XML:


<concept id="network_topology">
  <title>Network Topology</title>
  <body>
    <p>A network topology refers to the arrangement of elements in a telecommunications network. <ph keyref="network_elements">Key network elements</ph> play a crucial role in determining the overall structure of the network.</p>
  </body>

In this example, the phrase “Key network elements” is referenced using a key reference (“network_elements”). The actual content is stored centrally, and any updates to this content will be reflected wherever it’s referenced.

Conditional Text

Another strategy is the use of conditional text. Telecom companies can apply conditions to content sections that are specific to certain products or configurations. When generating documents, the DITA processor can include or exclude these conditional sections based on the chosen criteria. This ensures that documentation remains relevant and tailored to the specific telecom products or services.

By implementing these strategies, telecom companies can efficiently manage shared content across multiple documents, reducing the workload of updating and maintaining consistency while providing accurate information to their audiences.