XMetaL: A Hands-On Guide to Creating DITA Compliant Documents (with tutorials)

Learn to use JustSystems XMetaL Author to create DITA–compliant content in an easy to use, hands–on fashion with guided tutorials from Certified Technical Trainers! You can also download a PDF of the first five chapters and tutorials for free. Note that content is more involved in later files, but the content is representational of our full book.

This innovative book provides a combination of technical information related to using XMetaL Author to build DITA–compliant content with detailed, step–by–step tutorials. The interactive tutorials guide even the most novice user through the steps required to learn how to create content including tasks, concepts, references and even maps.

Bernard, I'm using your trial XMetaL book and it is simply great. To all who may be reading this and are interested in learning XMetaL / DITA, I would highly recommend this book. It is obvious that its two authors (Bernarnd Aschwanden and Jacquie Heys) not only are XMetaL and DITA experts, they are also preeminent writers, with an incredible clear writing style. I just wish all technical documents could be written as well. Bravo and brava!

-- Steve Murphy

Every aspect of creating content from the basics of the software application and use of the structured interface through to the development and publishing of maps to online help, HTML and even PDF formats is addressed. This is the same material used by Certified Technical Trainers to deliver technical training courses across North America and around the world.

This book also includes our DITA Primer and detailed hands on tutorials for every chapter.

The cost of the book is US$99.95 plus shipping and it can be ordered by emailing us.

Chapters include:

  1. Application overview

  2. File edits

  3. Structuring basics

  4. Developing topics

  5. Developing concepts

  6. Prolog elements

  7. Publishing

  8. Paragraphs and notes

  9. Lists

  10. Working with domains

  11. Footnotes

  12. Indexes

  13. Attributes

  14. Tables

  15. Images and multimedia

  16. Developing references

  17. Sections and examples

  18. Developing tasks

  19. Track changes

  20. Validation

  21. Linking in topics

  22. Reusing content

  23. Maps

  24. Relationship tables