Can DITA support variations in content structure and layout for different languages in aerospace documentation?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA’s flexibility in content structuring and its ability to manage variations in content layout for different languages make it a valuable tool for aerospace documentation. Aerospace content often needs to be localized for different regions and languages while retaining a consistent structure and layout. Here’s how DITA achieves this:

1. Conditional Text: DITA allows the use of conditional text elements. This feature enables authors to include or exclude content based on conditions such as the target language. For example, you can define conditional text for English and French versions of a document. DITA processing tools can then generate language-specific output by including the relevant content, ensuring that the structure and layout remain consistent while accommodating linguistic differences.

Example:

Here’s an example of using conditional text in DITA to manage content variations for different languages:

<!-- Conditional Text in DITA for Language Variations -->
<steps>
  <step>
    <title>Installing the Component</title>
    <body conkeyref="language" conaction="exclude-if" conref="fr-installation-steps.dita">
      <p>Follow these steps to install the component.</p>
      <p>Step 1: ...
      ...
    </body>
  </step>
</steps>

2. Localization Attributes: DITA allows you to use attributes to handle variations in content. For instance, you can define language-specific attributes to control the presentation and formatting of content. By setting these attributes based on the target language, you can ensure that the layout and styling adapt to the specific language requirements.

Example:

Here’s an example of using localization attributes in DITA to manage layout variations for different languages:

<!-- Localization Attributes in DITA for Layout Variations -->
<para outputclass="en-para">This is an English paragraph.</para>
<para outputclass="fr-para">Il s'agit d'un paragraphe en français.</para>

3. Separation of Structure and Presentation: DITA emphasizes the separation of content structure from presentation. By maintaining a consistent structural framework while allowing for variations in the presentation layer, DITA ensures that the core content remains the same, making it easier to manage and maintain across different languages.

These DITA features support aerospace organizations in achieving content localization while preserving the desired structure and layout for various languages, enhancing efficiency and consistency in aerospace documentation.