Can DITA support real-time updates and synchronization of manufacturing terminology databases?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA offers support for real-time updates and synchronization of manufacturing terminology databases, enabling organizations to maintain accurate and consistent terminology across their documentation. This capability is essential for industries like manufacturing, where terminology and standards frequently evolve. DITA’s features facilitate real-time updates and database synchronization, ensuring that manufacturing terminology remains up-to-date and accurate.

Concurrent Authoring and Database Synchronization

DITA allows multiple authors to work concurrently on different parts of the documentation while maintaining synchronization with a centralized terminology database. This ensures that all authors have access to the latest terminology and definitions, reducing the risk of inconsistent terminology usage. As new terms are added or existing ones are modified in the terminology database, these changes are reflected in real-time, providing up-to-date terminology for all authors.

Automated Updates

Automation plays a significant role in keeping manufacturing terminology databases synchronized. DITA supports automated processes that periodically check and update terminology databases. This can include automated alerts for terminology changes, ensuring that authors are informed of modifications to existing terms or the addition of new ones. Automation streamlines the process of maintaining accurate manufacturing terminology throughout the documentation lifecycle.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA enables real-time updates and synchronization of manufacturing terminology databases:


<topic id="assembly_process">
  <title>Assembly Process</title>
  <body>
    <p>In the <keyref keyref="quality_control_term"/> phase, it is essential to maintain strict standards.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

<glossary>
  <topic id="quality_control_term">
    <title>Quality Control</title>
    <body>
      <p>Quality control is the process of ensuring that products meet established standards and specifications.</p>
    </body>
  </topic>

In this example, changes made to the “Quality Control” definition in the terminology database are automatically reflected in the “Assembly Process” topic, ensuring that authors always work with the latest manufacturing terminology.