Comments on: Article: Choosing an XML Schema http://managingwriters.com/2008/04/11/article-choosing-an-xml-schema/ A Real-World Guide to Managing Technical Documentation Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:41:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: rlhamilton http://managingwriters.com/2008/04/11/article-choosing-an-xml-schema/#comment-60 rlhamilton Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:11:20 +0000 http://rlhamilton.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-60 Michael, Thanks for the kind words. Regarding localization, I should have at least mentioned it. It turns out that both DITA and DocBook have the essential elements covered, including: - Unicode support - Support for multiple languages in one document (both use the lang or xml:lang attribute on pretty much any element). - Support for standard translations of generated text (i.e., when the transforms insert the word "Chapter" in a chapter heading, that word will be translated based on the lang attribute). - Support for localized indexes. Overall, I think there's no real difference in terms of base capabilities. I suspect the real determinant will be how well your translators can deal with the schema you choose, though any good translator ought to be able to handle either. Hope that helps Michael,

Thanks for the kind words. Regarding localization, I should have at least mentioned it. It turns out that both DITA and DocBook have the essential elements covered, including:

- Unicode support
- Support for multiple languages in one document (both use
the lang or xml:lang attribute on pretty much any element).
- Support for standard translations of generated text (i.e.,
when the transforms insert the word “Chapter” in a chapter
heading, that word will be translated based on the lang
attribute).
- Support for localized indexes.

Overall, I think there’s no real difference in terms of base capabilities. I suspect the real determinant will be how well your translators can deal with the schema you choose, though any good translator ought to be able to handle either.

Hope that helps

]]> By: Michael http://managingwriters.com/2008/04/11/article-choosing-an-xml-schema/#comment-59 Michael Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:40:36 +0000 http://rlhamilton.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-59 Thanks for your excellent and helpful article on Content Wrangler. Interestingly, you do not mention localization in your comparison. That is, is either option (DITA or DocBook) superior if you are localizing your content to multiple languages? Thanks again! Thanks for your excellent and helpful article on Content Wrangler. Interestingly, you do not mention localization in your comparison. That is, is either option (DITA or DocBook) superior if you are localizing your content to multiple languages? Thanks again!

]]> By: Jim Earley http://managingwriters.com/2008/04/11/article-choosing-an-xml-schema/#comment-57 Jim Earley Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:19:09 +0000 http://rlhamilton.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-57 Given your disclosed "bias", this is a well-balanced, even-handed discussion. Well done. Both standards have much to offer, and "religious" debates do little in the way of promoting either, and only confuse prospective adopters. Given your disclosed “bias”, this is a well-balanced, even-handed discussion. Well done. Both standards have much to offer, and “religious” debates do little in the way of promoting either, and only confuse prospective adopters.

]]> By: Scott Hudson http://managingwriters.com/2008/04/11/article-choosing-an-xml-schema/#comment-58 Scott Hudson Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:39:28 +0000 http://rlhamilton.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-58 Dick, thanks so much for the very informative article. We get many questions from clients and prospective clients, and it's nice to have most of these answered in one place! I'll definitely be using this article as recommended reading for techdoc folks! Dick, thanks so much for the very informative article. We get many questions from clients and prospective clients, and it’s nice to have most of these answered in one place! I’ll definitely be using this article as recommended reading for techdoc folks!

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