Requirements
- You need a PC or a laptop where to install the needed software an follow the exercises in the course
- This course is not suitable for use on a mobile device or tablet.
- Basic knowledge in technical writing is recommended
Description
Do want to learn how to write documentation using DITA XML? If yes, I can help!
My name is Jordan Stanchev. And I have built my career in the field of technical communications in the last 18 years.
Starting off my carrier as a Java developer, I have then became a technical writer and a knowledge architect. At present, I lead the development of DITA-based technical writer's infrastructure projects, as well as the group of the DITA information architecture experts in the DITA CMS environment of our company.
In addition, I teach technical writing at university and online to students around the world.
I have vast experience in structured writing and information architecture using various DITA XML content management systems at a Fortune 500 company.
I believe, that today knowing DITA XML simply is a must!
The course 'How to Write Using DITA XML' is designed for entry level technical writers who wants to quickly learn what is DITA, create a simple guide and deliver it using a non-customized output using Oxygen Author tool.
It will take you around 2 hours from the start as an absolute beginner, go through this course and delivera small and simple guide in PDF or HTML output format.
What will you learn?
This is a course I use to teach my university students in IT about what is DITA and how to get started with DITA. That is why it provides:
- Basic knowledge and understanding what is DITA;
- How to get started writing software documentation using DITA in a content management system (Oxygen Author);
- What is DITA topic and how to use it;
- What is DITA map and how to use it;
- How to construct a deliverable using a DITA XML editor: Oxygen XML Author;
- How to produce a final deliverable ready for shipment to your customers.
What is NOT COVERED in this course:
As this is a getting started course, I shall not deep dive into DITA XML markup. To learn DITA it may take years of experience. The goal of the course is to provide you with a quick getting started. That is why:
- This is not a comprehensive DITA XML course. Do not expect such deep dive level here.
- No reuse strategies are touched upon! I do not provide details on linking, profiling, chunking, nesting, sophisticated delivery strategy, and so on.
- I do not provide information about DITA specializations, DITAVAL files, DTDs and so on. This is not covered in this course.
- OTK is not covered or even mentioned in this course.
Why DITA?
Structured writing in DITA XML is an advanced discipline for technical writers. You can find many authors with decent language and writing skills. But you already know that technical writing is so much more than just written text with no spelling mistakes, isn't it?
If you need your technical writers to:
- Strictly follow your company or industry writing guidelines;
- Be able to spend less time on maintenance of old documentation and spend more time on value added activities for the customer;
- Offer information that can be reused on all levels - entire guides, chapters, topics, sentences or even single words;
- Maintain very high content quality standard with no broken links and missing content;
- Produce as many different output formats as your customer needs - all from the same content
- Use metadata to classify the content that was written and offer it for automated forms of information consumption;
then most probably you are already evaluating DITA as an option for writing. DITA already offers all listed functionality and even more!
Being a Technical Writer who knows how to use DITA can open the doors for you to start a career in some of the greatest IT companies in the world!
Here are just a couple of company names that write their documentation using DITA XML:
- Apple
- IBM (they invented DITA, after all!)
- Google
- VMware
- SAP SE
and hundreds other companies!
If this quick start into DITA course is what you are looking for, I will be happy to meet you in this course!
Enroll now and see how simple technical writing with DITA XML can be!
P.S. Do not forget that the course comes with 30-day full refund policy - no questions asked!
Who this course is for:
- Technical writers who want to learn what is DITA
