DITA provides a flexible framework that supports the integration of content from third-party maritime equipment manufacturers into documentation, enabling maritime organizations to incorporate essential information seamlessly. This integration ensures that details about specialized equipment, such as navigation systems or communication devices, can be effectively included in DITA documentation for operational purposes.

Data Mapping and Custom Elements

One way DITA facilitates this integration is through data mapping and the creation of custom elements. Maritime organizations can define custom DITA elements specific to the data provided by third-party equipment manufacturers. For example, if a manufacturer offers detailed technical specifications for a navigation system, custom DITA elements like <navigation-system> or <communication-device> can be established to house this information. Data mapping ensures that the manufacturer’s data aligns with the predefined DITA structure.

Vendor-Specific Integration

DITA’s modular architecture allows for vendor-specific integration. Each third-party manufacturer’s documentation can be treated as a separate DITA module. This approach enables maritime organizations to incorporate manufacturer-specific content as needed. DITA’s conditional processing capabilities further enhance this by allowing organizations to include or exclude vendor-specific content based on specific criteria, such as equipment type or model, ensuring that the documentation remains focused and relevant.

Example:

Here’s an HTML-friendly example illustrating the integration of content from a third-party maritime equipment manufacturer into DITA documentation:

<topic id="navigation_system">
  <title>Navigation System</title>
  <navigation-system>
    <manufacturer>XYZ Navigation Inc.</manufacturer>
    <model>NavPro 3000</model>
    <technical-specs>
      <screen-size>10 inches</screen-size>
      <resolution>1920x1080</resolution>
      <weight>2.5 kg</weight>
    </technical-specs>
    <description>This section provides details about the XYZ NavPro 3000 navigation system.</description>
  </navigation-system>
  <content>...

In this example, data from a third-party navigation system manufacturer, XYZ Navigation Inc., has been integrated into a DITA topic with custom elements like <navigation-system> and <technical-specs>. This allows for structured representation of manufacturer-specific data within the documentation.