XMetaL for Authors

Course-at-a-glance: This three–day course is developed for people who need to produce content based upon the DITA specification with XMetaL Author. Learn about writing content in a fully structured and easy–to–use environment optimized for producing valid XML and production of multiple outputs for print and online delivery. Acquire hands–on experience with publishing support, including concept, task, and reference topics, DITA maps and relationship tables.

Prerequisite: You must have a solid working familiarity with your operating system.

Objectives: Upon successful completion attendees will be able to:

  • Understand the XMetaL model and its DITA processing and publishing features

  • Create valid DITA concept, task, and reference topics as stand–alone units of information

  • Build DITA maps to organize and link topics to develop a navigation system (such as a TOC)

  • Understand each of the commonly–used DITA elements for all topic types

  • Leverage features for simplifying structured authoring, including multiple document views, the Element List, and the Attribute Inspector

  • Understand the relationship between siblings, parents, children, ancestors and descendants

  • Insert content using elements which are moved, deleted, merged or split as required

  • Insert, modify and delete content in table heading, cells, headers and footers and merge cells

  • Work with unordered, ordered and definition lists

  • Import and position graphics

  • Work with cross–references including links to locations such as topics, websites or email

  • Set up conditional text, make content conditional, and publish conditional documents

  • Know when to use the 3 methods of content reuse in DITA: topic reuse, conrefs, and conditional text

  • Create PDF and help documents for distribution using the DITA Open Toolkit

  • Troubleshoot validation and publishing problems

Further Learning: Topic based writing

Delivery: The following delivery is available:

  • Instructor–led, group–paced, online–delivery learning model with structured hands–on activities and assignments

  • Customized classroom training at your location

Fees: Course pricing is as follows:

  • Instructor–led, online–delivery: $1495/participant (group rates available)

  • Customized classroom training at your location: $1995/day for up to 8 participants plus travel expenses

Testimonial

"No one does it better than Bernard when it comes to teaching folks the “hows” and “whys” of content authoring and publishing. He does this through compelling stand-up training classes, scintillating presentations at industry events, interesting articles in technical publications, informative whitepapers, and expert advice - in others words, if you need to know how to create content or produce deliverables, he can help you. To maintain his command of current and evolving practice, Bernard uses client challenges as opportunities to learn and adapt new technologies to craft custom solutions. I can’t recommend a more enthusiastic, dynamic or innovative professional to be a speaker, author and trainer."

Amber Swope, Senior Solutions Consultant, JustSystems