The properties of a topic (including metadata attributes and metadata elements) can be specified in the topic itself or in references to the topic within maps.
Within a topic, properties can be expressed using metadata attributes on the topic element or using publication, management, or metadata elements in the topic prolog.
DITA offers users three levels at which to apply topic properties. Topic attributes and metadata elements can be defined within the topic itself. Properties can also be set as attributes or subelements of a topicref that points to the topic. In addition, properties can be set on container or ancestor elements of the topicref within the map. Because the topics in a branch of the navigation hierarchy typically have some common subjects or properties, this is a convenient mechanism to set properties for a set of topics.
If a property is set in both the map and topic, the map properties are additive if the property (such as the audience type) takes a list of values. If, instead, the property (such as the importance) takes a single value, the map property overrides the topic property.
Prolog metadata elements can provide more information about values used in metadata attributes on content. However, prolog metadata and attribute metadata can also be used and expressed independently. The coordination shown here is possible but is not required.
<prolog> <metadata> <audience name="AdminNovice" type="administrator" job="customizing" experiencelevel="novice"> </metadata> </prolog> .... <p audience="AdminNovice ProgrammerExp">This paragraph applies to both novice administrators and expert programmers</p>
In the preceding example, the attribute value "AdminNovice" is associated with the audience element with the same name, which gives authors and processes more information about the audience in question: in this case, that the "AdminNovice" audience is administrators who are customizing and are new at it.
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OASIS DITA Architectural Specification v1.1 -- Committee Draft 02, 8 May 2007
Copyright © OASIS Open 2005, 2007. All Rights Reserved.