All elements with translation properties

This contains a list of all current TC-approved elements, divided up by module. It describes which are usually block elements and which are usually inline, and lists which elements should typically be translated by default.

Since the distinction between block and inline elements is ultimately controlled by the container of the element and the processing associated with it, the same element may be a block in one context and an inline element in another. Specializing document types may vary this behavior according to the needs of the document type being created, and the distinctions given below are provided only as a guide to known behavior with the base DITA document types.

Notes on the tables below


topic elements

Element name Specialized from Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
abstract (New in DITA 1.1) N/A block block yes  
alt N/A block***1 block yes  
audience N/A block (metadata) block yes  
author N/A block (metadata) block yes  
body N/A block block yes  
boolean N/A inline inline n/a  
brand N/A block (metadata) block yes  
category N/A block (metadata) block yes  
cite N/A inline inline yes  
colspec N/A n/a n/a n/a  
component N/A block (metadata) block yes  
copyrholder N/A block (metadata) block yes  
copyright N/A block (metadata) block yes  
copyryear N/A block (metadata) block yes  
created N/A block (metadata) block yes  
critdates N/A block (metadata) block yes  
data (New in DITA 1.1) N/A N/A (metadata) block no (likely to change for some specializations)  
data-about (New in DITA 1.1) N/A N/A (metadata) block no  
dd N/A block block yes  
ddhd N/A block block yes  
desc N/A block block yes  
dl N/A block block yes @spectitle2
dlentry N/A block block yes  
dlhead N/A block block yes  
draft-comment N/A block***1 block no  
dt N/A block block yes  
dthd N/A block block yes  
entry N/A block block yes  
example N/A block block yes @spectitle2
featnum N/A block (metadata) block yes  
fig N/A block block yes @spectitle2
figgroup N/A block block yes  
fn N/A block***1 block yes  
foreign (New in DITA 1.1) N/A block3 block3 no4  
image N/A block when @placement= break, otherwise inline block when @placement= break, otherwise inline yes @alt5
index-base (New in DITA 1.1) N/A block***1 block yes  
indexterm N/A block***1 block yes  
indextermref N/A inline n/a n/a  
itemgroup N/A inline inline yes  
keyword N/A inline inline (except when within <keywords> – see note above the table) yes  
keywords N/A block block yes  
li N/A block block yes  
lines N/A block block yes @spectitle2
link N/A block block yes  
linkinfo N/A block block yes  
linklist N/A block block yes @spectitle2
linkpool N/A block block yes  
linktext N/A block block yes  
lq N/A block block yes @reftitle
metadata N/A block (metadata) block yes  
navtitle N/A block block yes  
no-topic-nesting N/A n/a n/a n/a  
note N/A block block yes @othertype, @spectitle2
object N/A block block yes @standby
ol N/A block block yes @spectitle2
othermeta N/A block (metadata) block yes @content
p N/A block block yes  
param N/A block block n/a  
permissions N/A block (metadata) block yes  
ph N/A inline inline yes  
platform N/A block (metadata) block yes  
pre N/A block block yes @spectitle2
prodinfo N/A block (metadata) block yes  
prodname N/A block (metadata) block yes  
prognum N/A block (metadata) block yes  
prolog N/A block (metadata) block yes  
publisher N/A block (metadata) block yes  
q N/A inline inline yes  
related-links N/A block block yes  
required-cleanup N/A block***1 block no  
resourceid N/A block (metadata) block yes  
revised N/A block (metadata) block yes  
row N/A block block yes  
searchtitle N/A block block yes  
section N/A block block yes @spectitle2
series N/A block (metadata) block yes  
shortdesc N/A block block yes  
simpletable N/A block block yes @spectitle2
sl N/A block block yes @spectitle2
sli N/A block block yes  
source N/A block (metadata) block yes  
state N/A inline inline yes @value
stentry N/A block block yes @specentry2
sthead N/A block block yes  
strow N/A block block yes  
table N/A block block yes  
tbody N/A block block yes  
term N/A inline inline yes  
tgroup N/A block block yes  
thead N/A block block yes  
title N/A block block yes  
titlealts N/A block block yes  
tm N/A inline inline yes  
topic N/A block block yes  
ul N/A block block yes @spectitle2
unknown (New in DITA 1.1) N/A block block no  
vrm N/A block (metadata) block yes  
vrmlist N/A block (metadata) block yes  
xref N/A inline inline yes  

map elements

Element name Specialized from Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
anchor N/A n/a n/a n/a  
linktext N/A block block yes  
map N/A block block yes @title
navref N/A n/a n/a n/a  
relcell N/A block block yes  
relcolspec N/A block block yes  
relheader N/A block block yes  
relrow N/A block block yes  
reltable N/A block block yes  
searchtitle N/A block block yes  
shortdesc N/A block block yes  
topicmeta N/A block block yes  
topicref N/A block block yes @navtitle

bookmap elements (new in DITA 1.1)

The bookmap specialization contains many phrase-based elements inside the bookmeta. These are metadata, and should not be translated.

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
abbrevlist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
amendments topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
appendix topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
approved data yes block block no  
backmatter topicref yes block block yes  
bibliolist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
bookabstract topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
bookchangehistory data yes block block no  
bookevent data yes block block no  
bookeventtype data yes block block no  
bookid data yes block block no  
booklibrary ph yes inline inline yes  
booklist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
booklists topicref yes block block yes  
bookmap map no block block yes removed title attribute
bookmeta topicmeta yes block block yes  
booknumber data yes block block no  
bookowner data yes block block no  
bookpartno data yes block block no  
bookrestriction data yes block block no  
bookrights data yes block block no  
booktitle title yes block block yes  
booktitlealt ph yes inline inline yes  
chapter topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
colophon topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
completed ph no inline inline no  
copyrfirst data yes block block no  
copyrlast data yes block block no  
day ph no inline inline no  
dedication topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
draftintro topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
edited data yes block block no  
edition data yes block block no  
figurelist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
frontmatter topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
glossarylist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
indexlist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
isbn data yes block block no  
mainbooktitle ph yes inline inline yes  
maintainer data yes block block no  
month ph no inline inline no  
notices topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
organization data yes block block no  
part topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
person data yes block block no  
preface topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
printlocation data yes block block no  
published data yes block block no  
publisherinformation publisher yes block block yes  
publishtype data yes block block no  
reviewed data yes block block no  
revisionid ph no inline inline no  
started ph no inline inline no  
summary ph yes inline inline yes  
tablelist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
tested data yes block block no  
toc topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
trademarklist topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
volume data yes block block no  
year ph no inline inline no  

concept elements

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
conbody body yes block block yes  
concept topic yes block block yes  

glossary elements (new in DITA 1.1)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
glossdef abstract yes block block yes  
glossentry topic yes block block yes  

reference elements

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
propdesc stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
propdeschd stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
properties simpletable yes block block yes @spectitle2
property strow yes block block yes  
prophead sthead yes block block yes  
proptype stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
proptypehd stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
propvalue stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
propvaluehd stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
refbody body yes block block yes  
reference topic yes block block yes  
refsyn section yes block block yes @spectitle2

task elements

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
chdesc stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
chdeschd stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
chhead sthead yes block block yes  
choice li yes block block yes  
choices ul yes block block yes removes @spectitle
choicetable simpletable yes block block yes @spectitle2
choption stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
choptionhd stentry yes block block yes @specentry2
chrow strow yes block block yes  
cmd ph NO inline block yes  
context section yes block block yes removes @spectitle
info itemgroup NO inline block yes  
postreq section yes block block yes removes @spectitle
prereq section yes block block yes removes @spectitle
result section yes block block yes removes @spectitle
step li yes block block yes  
stepresult itemgroup NO inline block yes  
steps ol yes block block yes removes @spectitle
steps-unordered ul yes block block yes removes @spectitle
stepxmp itemgroup NO inline block yes  
substep li yes block block yes  
substeps ol yes block block yes removes @spectitle
task topic yes block block yes  
taskbody body yes block block yes  
tutorialinfo itemgroup NO inline block yes  

hi-d elements (highlight domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
b ph yes inline inline yes  
i ph yes inline inline yes  
sub ph yes inline inline yes  
sup ph yes inline inline yes  
tt ph yes inline inline yes  
u ph yes inline inline yes  

indexing-d elements (indexing domain) (new in DITA 1.1)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
index-see index-base yes block***1 block yes  
index-see-also index-base yes block***1 block yes  
index-sort-as index-base yes block***1 block yes  

pr-d elements (programming domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
apiname keyword yes inline inline yes  
codeblock pre yes block block yes @spectitle2
codeph ph yes inline inline yes  
delim ph yes inline inline yes  
fragment figgroup yes block block yes  
fragref xref yes inline inline yes  
groupchoice figgroup yes block block yes  
groupcomp figgroup yes block block yes  
groupseq figgroup yes block block yes  
kwd keyword yes inline inline yes  
oper ph yes inline inline yes  
option keyword yes inline inline yes  
parml dl yes block block yes @spectitle2
parmname keyword yes inline inline yes  
pd dd yes block block yes  
plentry dlentry yes block block yes  
pt dt yes block block yes  
repsep ph yes inline inline yes  
sep ph yes inline inline yes  
synblk figgroup yes block block yes  
synnote fn yes block block yes  
synnoteref xref yes inline inline yes  
synph ph yes inline inline yes  
syntaxdiagram fig yes block block yes removes @spectitle
var ph yes inline inline yes  

sw-d elements (software domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
cmdname keyword yes inline inline yes  
filepath ph yes inline inline yes  
msgblock pre yes block block yes @spectitle2
msgnum keyword yes inline inline yes  
msgph ph yes inline inline yes  
systemoutput ph yes inline inline yes  
userinput ph yes inline inline yes  
varname keyword yes inline inline yes  

ui-d elements (UI domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
menucascade ph yes inline inline yes  
screen pre yes block block yes @spectitle2
shortcut keyword yes inline inline yes  
uicontrol ph yes inline inline yes  
wintitle keyword yes inline inline yes  

ut-d elements (Utilities domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
area figgroup yes block block yes  
coords ph NO inline inline no  
imagemap fig yes block block yes (can contain translatable alternate text) @spectitle2
shape keyword NO inline inline no  

mapgroup-d elements (mapgroup domain)

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
topicgroup topicref yes block block yes @navtitle
topichead topicref yes block block yes @navtitle

xnal-d elements (XNAL domain) (new in DITA 1.1)

The XNAL information is all metadata, so it generally does not need to be translated. Exceptions may be needed when selections from this metadata are used for display purposes. The standard behavior may need to change based on local business rules. For example, in some cases it may be appropriate to translate the honorific, country, or organizationname elements.

Element name Specialized from Inherits everything from ancestor? Block/Inline (presentation) Block/Inline (translation) Translatable content? Translatable attributes?
addressdetails ph no block block no  
administrativearea ph no block block no  
authorinformation author no block block no  
contactnumber data no block block no  
contactnumbers data no block block no  
country ph no block block no  
emailaddress data no block block no  
emailaddresses data no block block no  
firstname data no block block no  
generationidentifier data no block block no  
honorific data no block block no  
lastname data no block block no  
locality ph no block block no  
localityname ph no block block no  
middlename data no block block no  
namedetails data no block block no  
organizationinfo data no block block no  
organizationname ph no block block no  
organizationnamedetails ph no block block no  
otherinfo data no block block no  
personinfo data no block block no  
personname data no block block no  
postalcode ph no block block no  
thoroughfare ph no block block no  
url data no block block no  
urls data no block block no  
1 This element is considered a "subflow" element for translation. If it is located in the middle of a translation segment, it should not be translated as part of that segment. For example, indexterm, fn, and draft-comment may divide a sentence in two, but should be treated as blocks, and should not interrupt the sentence.
2 The spectitle and specentry attributes can contain translatable text. The direct use of fixed-in-the-DTD text by tools is discouraged, in favor of using the value as a lookup string to find the translation outside of the file, using accepted localization methods for generated text.
3 The block vs. inline designation for the foreign element is likely to change for some specializations
4 The desc, object, and image elements inside <foreign> should still be translatable; they provide an alternative display if the foreign content cannot be processed
5 The use of the alt attribute is deprecated in favor of the alt element.

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OASIS DITA Architectural Specification v1.1 -- Committee Draft 13 February 2007
Copyright © OASIS Open 2005, 2007. All Rights Reserved.