DITA: Introduction to the standard
Presentation
4D CONCEPT’s DITA training course enables technical writers to quickly move from theory to practice by creating their first DITA documentation in just two days.
Participants learn how to use oXygen XML, the leading editor, and how to structure, filter, and publish DITA content through practical exercises based on a common theme. The training requires no prior knowledge of XML and is designed for immediate application in a professional context.
The training is presented in oXygen.
Next sessions
To know
Public
2 to 5 trainees maximum per sessions
Duration
2 days
Price
On demand
Target
Technical writers, documentation architects.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Location
All our training courses can be delivered in person or remotely. Intra-company or inter-company training.
Accessibility
4D CONCEPT is committed to offering training courses to everyone. Our centres are accessible to people with reduced mobility, and our teams are on hand to provide the best possible support to participants with disabilities of any kind throughout their training.
Please contact our disability advisor at psh-accueil@4dconcept.fr so that we can assess your request and its feasibility.
Goals
At the end of the training, you will be able to:
- Recognise data types (concept, task, reference)
- Convert Word documentation to DITA XML standard.
- Vary content using DITA mechanisms: filters and keys
Program
1. Introduction to structured documentation
- Limitations of unstructured documentation
- Benefits of structured documentation
2. Introduction to XML
- XML: definition
- XML structure
- XML validation
- XML in technical documentation
- Editing and publishing XML documentation
3. DITA standard
- Traditional documents vs. DITA documentation
- Origin and purpose of the DITA standard
- DITA among documentation standards
- Modularity in DITA: topics
- Topic types
- Organising topics in documentation
- Reuse in the DITA standard
- Filtering and content variation
- Translation and multilingual management
- Why structure your documentation with DITA?
4. Understanding DITA topics
- The topic: unit of information
- Principles of topic-oriented writing
- XML structure of a DITA topic
- Best practices for writing topics
5. Cutting and typing an existing document
- Content typing and segmentation
- Principles of modular division
6. Organising content with DITA maps
- What is a DITA map?
- Hierarchy and organisation in a DITA map
- Dynamic links in DITA
- Validating and exporting a DITA map
7. Conditional filtering
- Why filter DITA content?
- Standard filtering attributes
- Structure of a DITAVAL file
8. Advanced reuse with keys
- Referencing a resource by key using the DITA map
- Filtering vs variation by key
9. Publishing with DITA-OT in oXygen XML
- The role of DITA-OT
- Validating a DITA map with DITA-OT
10. Conclusion
- What we have learnt
- What is DITA used for?
- Limitations and best practices
- Further reading
Assessment methods:
The trainer will assess the knowledge acquired at the end of the course.
Updated January 2026
Testimonials
The speaker has a thorough understanding of the subject matter. Well-structured practical exercises.
You will come away with a concrete idea of structured content and the DITA standard, as well as a solid foundation of understanding.
Programme suitable for beginners, logical and comprehensive exercises.
