Publications in DITA are handled via dita maps. Even with conditions and DITAVAL options, these are inherently static and bound to an old book type paradigm. In this presentation I am trying to outline a new paradigm, where the disclosure of information is made truly dynamic. Doing away with maps or at least with one single top-level map that defines all content. Having a dynamic information disclosure layer in place may prepare our technical content for the fast-moving world of today (which will move even faster tomorrow).

1. Driving DITA off the Map
Jang F.M. Graat

2. Who’s talking ?
• Jang F.M. Graat
• Amsterdam
• Part-time tech comms
specialist (25+ years)
• Full-time philosopher
• Box ? What box ?
• Addicted to challenge

3. Driving DITA off the Map
Toward (Much) More Intelligent
Information Disclosure

4. What’s the problem ?

5. Minimalism

6. Only what the user needs

7. One Size Fits All ?

8. Who is the user ?

9. What do they know ?

10. Progressive disclosure

11. Workflow diagram

12. Trouble-shooting

13. Organizing topics

14. Where to look ?

15. Outdated paradigm

16. Slightly better paradigm

17. Modern (lazy) paradigm

18. What is installed ?
A B C D E F G H
GUI a X X X X
GUI b X X X
GUI c X X
library 1 X X X
library 2 X X X X X X
library 3 X X X X
.NET X X X X
SQL X X X
PHP X X X X

19. Can users figure it out ?

20. User-side configuration

21. Intelligent disclosure
information elements (multiple versions)
maps, indexes, cross-refs, search results
product a product b product c

22. c X
X
X
Dynamic toc, index, etc.
information elements (multiple versions)
a b

23. Dynamic topic linking
information elements (multiple versions)
a b c

24. Only what users need

25. Questions ?
jang @ jang . nl