How are pharmaceutical-specific diagrams, illustrations, and scientific graphics integrated into DITA content?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Integrating pharmaceutical-specific diagrams, illustrations, and scientific graphics into DITA content is crucial for conveying complex information in pharmaceutical documentation. DITA provides a structured and efficient way to incorporate visual elements into textual content, enhancing the comprehensibility of scientific information.

Graphics Integration in DITA

DITA allows the inclusion of graphics, diagrams, and illustrations within topics using specialized elements. The <fig> element is commonly used for this purpose. Here’s an example of how graphics can be integrated into DITA:


<topic id="drug_structure">
  <title>Drug Structure</title>
  <body>
    <p>This topic provides an overview of the chemical structure of the drug.</p>
    <fig>
      <title>Chemical Structure</title>
      <image href="drug_structure.png" />
    </fig>
  </body>
</topic>

In this example, the <fig> element includes a title and references an image file (e.g., “drug_structure.png”) representing the chemical structure of the drug.

Scientific Diagrams and Illustrations

Pharmaceutical documentation often requires detailed scientific diagrams and illustrations. These can be included as image files, and DITA allows you to provide context and descriptions for these visuals within your content. Ensuring that image descriptions are provided is crucial for accessibility.

By integrating pharmaceutical-specific graphics into DITA content, pharmaceutical companies can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of their documentation, aiding healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients in understanding complex drug-related information.