Version control and change tracking are essential aspects of crop cultivation documentation when using DITA XML. These features help agricultural organizations maintain accuracy, monitor changes, and ensure the integrity of their documentation over time.

Version Control

In DITA, version control allows agricultural organizations to track and manage different versions of their documentation. Each document or topic can have a version number, making it easy to identify and reference specific versions. For example, a document about a particular crop’s cultivation practices may have multiple versions, with each version corresponding to a different growing season or set of recommendations. This ensures that historical information is preserved, and users can access documentation relevant to a specific time frame.

Change Tracking

DITA also supports change tracking, which enables organizations to monitor modifications made to their documentation. When updates or revisions are made, change tracking highlights the differences between the previous and current versions. This feature is invaluable for quality control and compliance, ensuring that any alterations are intentional and properly reviewed. It also allows users to quickly identify what has changed, helping them stay informed about the latest updates in crop cultivation practices.

Example:

Here’s an example of version control and change tracking in DITA:

<topic id="crop_cultivation">
  <title>Crop Cultivation Best Practices</title>
  <version>2.1</version>
  <last-reviewed>2023-10-15</last-reviewed>
  <reviewed-by>Alice Johnson</reviewed-by>
  <content>...
  <change-history>
    <change date="2023-09-01" type="revision">Updated irrigation recommendations.</change>
    <change date="2023-07-15" type="revision">Incorporated new pest control findings.</change>
    <change date="2023-05-20" type="initial">Created initial version of the document.</change>
  </change-history>

In this example, a DITA topic titled “Crop Cultivation Best Practices” has a version number, a last-reviewed date, and a change history section. The change history lists previous revisions, indicating what changes were made and when, providing a clear record of document evolution.