About the DITA specification: Technical content edition

The technical content edition of the DITA specification is the medium-sized edition. It is designed for users who use information typing and document complex applications and devices, such as software, hardware, medical devices, machinery, and more.

Technical content edition

The following graphic illustrates the contents of the technical content edition; it also highlights how the technical content edition relates to the other editions.

Block diagram illustrating the components of the three editions of the DITA specification, and the subset relationships between the three editions. The Base Edition ('Part 1') contains the Base Architecture, which includes map, topic, and subject scheme. The Technical Content Edition ('Part 2') contains the Base Architecture plus the Technical Content specializations, which include concept, task, reference, book map, glossary, classification map, machine industry, and troubleshooting. The All-Inclusive Edition ('Part 3') contains the Base Architecture, the Technical Content specializations, and the Learning and Training specializations. Portions of this diagram specific to the Technical Content Edition are highlighted and bold, while others are dimmed, to signify that this is the Technical Content Edition of the specification.

Base edition: The base edition contains topic, map, and subject scheme map. It is the smallest edition; it is designed for application developers and users who need only the most fundamental pieces of the DITA framework.
Technical content edition (this edition): The technical content edition includes the base architecture and the specializations usually used by technical communicators: concept, task, and reference topics; machine industry task; troubleshooting topic; bookmap; glossaries; and classification map. It is the medium-sized edition; it is designed for authors who use information typing and document complex applications and devices, such as software, hardware, medical devices, machinery, and more.
All-inclusive edition: The all-inclusive edition contains the base architecture, the technical content pieces, and the learning and training specializations. It is the largest edition; it is designed for implementers who want all OASIS-approved specializations, as well as users who develop learning and training materials.

XML grammar files

The DITA markup for DITA vocabulary modules and DITA document types is available in several XML languages: RELAX NG (RNG), XML Document-Type Definitions (DTD), and W3C XML Schema (XSD).

While the files should define the same DITA elements, the RELAX NG grammars are normative if there is a discrepancy.

DITA written specification

The specification is written for implementers of the DITA standard, including tool developers and XML architects who develop specializations. The documentation contains several parts:

Introduction
Architectural specification
Language reference
Conformance statement
Appendices

The DITA written specification is available in the following formats; the XHTML version is authoritative:

XHTML (available from the OASIS Web site)
CHM
PDF
DITA source
ZIP of XHTML (optimized for local use)