What is the impact of DITA on the efficiency of visual content localization for global automotive audiences?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA XML significantly enhances the efficiency of visual content localization for global automotive audiences. Localizing visual content, including images, diagrams, and multimedia, is a crucial aspect of reaching international markets effectively. Here’s how DITA facilitates this process:

Modular Content

One of the key advantages of DITA is its modular content structure. Visual elements and their associated descriptions or labels are often separated into distinct DITA topics or components. This modular approach allows for easier management of localized content. When it comes to localization, only the textual descriptions and labels need translation, while the visual elements can remain the same. This reduces translation costs and ensures visual consistency across different language versions.

Conditional Text

DITA offers a feature called “conditional text,” which allows authors to specify different content variants based on various conditions, such as language or audience. Authors can create condition tags for different languages, and DITA publishing tools can generate output specific to each target language. This means that visuals and descriptions can be tailored for each locale, ensuring that the content is not only translated but also culturally appropriate and contextually relevant.

Example:

Here’s an example illustrating the use of conditional text in DITA for content localization:


<topic id="vehicle_overview">
  <title>Vehicle Overview</title>
  <body>
    <p>This is a high-level overview of the vehicle.</p>
    <image href="vehicle_overview.jpg">
      <alt>Vehicle Exterior</alt>
      <desc>Variants for the vehicle's exterior.</desc>
      <cond conref="images/localized/vehicle_exterior.xml#de-DE" />
      <cond conref="images/localized/vehicle_exterior.xml#fr-FR" />
      <cond conref="images/localized/vehicle_exterior.xml#ja-JP" />
    </image>
  </body>
</topic>

In this example, conditional text tags are used to reference language-specific descriptions for the “Vehicle Exterior” image. When generating content for different locales (e.g., German, French, Japanese), DITA can pull in the appropriate descriptions while keeping the visual element consistent.