Version control and change tracking are essential components of production documentation using DITA XML in the film industry. They play a vital role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and accountability of production-related information, which can include shooting scripts, call sheets, production schedules, and other critical documents.

Version Control

Version control in DITA allows film organizations to maintain a history of changes made to production documentation. Each document or topic can have a version attribute that indicates its revision or iteration. This ensures that there is a clear record of how the document has evolved over time. It’s particularly valuable in scenarios where multiple collaborators are working on the same document, as it prevents conflicts and enables easy identification of the most recent version.

Change Tracking

Change tracking is another crucial feature of DITA that helps film organizations monitor and review modifications made to production documentation. Within DITA, changes to content can be tracked at a granular level, allowing users to see precisely what was added, modified, or removed. This level of detail is essential for maintaining the accuracy of production materials and ensuring that any updates or revisions align with the intended changes.

Example:

Here’s an example of how version control and change tracking can be implemented in DITA for a shooting script:

<topic id="shooting_script" version="1.0">
  <title>Shooting Script</title>
  <content>...
  <change-history>
    <change date="2023-11-10" author="Director">
      <added>Revised dialog for Scene 3.</added>
      <modified>Scene 5 description for better clarity.</modified>
      <removed>Redundant scene in Act 2.</removed>
    </change>
    <change date="2023-11-08" author="Screenwriter">
      <added>New scene for Act 3.</added>
    </change>
  </change-history>

In this example, the shooting script topic includes version information (“1.0”) and a change history section that records the changes made to the script, including additions, modifications, and removals, along with the date and author of each change.