How do organizations ensure the accuracy and currency of metadata and reference links in DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Ensuring the accuracy and currency of metadata and reference links in DITA is paramount to maintain the quality and reliability of documentation. Organizations implement systematic approaches to achieve this. Let’s delve into how they secure the precision and up-to-dateness of metadata and reference links.

1. Regular Review and Validation: One of the fundamental practices is conducting regular reviews and validations of metadata and links. Organizations establish review schedules to ensure that metadata associated with content remains accurate and relevant. DITA XML documents are systematically validated to identify and address broken or outdated links. This ongoing process guarantees the reliability of the documentation over time.

Example:

Here is an example of how organizations can structure their DITA topics to indicate the need for regular validation:


<topic>
  <title>Validation Process</title>
  <body>
    <p>Metadata and links require regular <ph><term href="validation_policy.html">validation</term></ph> to maintain accuracy and currency.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

2. Automated Validation Tools: Many organizations use automated validation tools that scan DITA content for metadata and reference links. These tools can identify and report broken or outdated links, enabling timely corrections. This automated approach helps streamline the process and maintain the integrity of the documentation.

Example:

Here’s how organizations can utilize automated validation tools to maintain the accuracy of metadata and links:


<topic>
  <title>Automated Validation</title>
  <body>
    <p>We employ <ph><term href="validation_tool.html">automated validation tools</term></ph> to check the accuracy and currency of our metadata and links.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

By following these systematic processes and utilizing automated validation tools, organizations ensure the accuracy and currency of metadata and reference links in their DITA documentation.