Can DITA automatically generate content variants for different audiences or products during translation?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Automatically generating content variants for different audiences or products during translation is a valuable capability in DITA XML, making the translation process more efficient and ensuring content aligns with the specific needs of various target groups or products.

Conditional Processing

DITA XML allows for conditional processing attributes like conkeyref and conref, which enable the automatic generation of content variants. By specifying conditions, such as audience or product version, content authors can create a single source that dynamically assembles content variations based on the conditions defined in the publishing process.

Content Variant Generation Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA can automatically generate content variants for different audiences:


<topic id="product_overview">
  <title>Product Overview</title>
  <body>
    <p conkeyref="overview_for_experts" audience="experts">This is the product overview for experts.</p>
    <p conkeyref="overview_for_beginners" audience="beginners">This is the product overview for beginners.</p>
  </body>

In this example, content variants are generated based on the specified audience, allowing for the automatic assembly of content for experts and beginners.

Efficient Localization

By leveraging these automatic content variant generation features, organizations can streamline the localization process. They can maintain a single source of content while dynamically producing different versions for diverse audiences or products, ensuring a consistent and efficient translation workflow.