Updates to source content in DITA are propagated to reused and translated content through a combination of version control, content management practices, and DITA’s conditional processing and key references.

Version Control: Organizations use version control systems to track changes in the source content. When a change is made to a source element, it is documented, and version history is maintained. This ensures a clear record of all modifications, facilitating change management.

Content Management: Structured content management practices are in place to systematically apply updates to source content to reused and translated content. These practices involve establishing relationships between source and reused content, tracking dependencies, and ensuring that updates are accurately propagated.

Conditional Processing: DITA’s conditional processing attributes, such as “conkeyref” and “conref,” are instrumental in ensuring that updates are correctly applied. These attributes allow conditions to be associated with content, enabling condition-specific updates as changes are made in the source content. This ensures that content adaptations are contextually appropriate.

Key References: Key references link source and reused content. When the source content is updated, key references ensure that the changes are reflected in all instances where the content is reused, including translations. This automation ensures consistency and minimizes the risk of manual oversight in updating content.