Poll: How do you differentiate commands, etc. in text?

[Yves Barbion]

If you are already using Information Mapping (IMAP), and maybe XML, you may
want to move to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). The DITA
content model and DTD's have all the domain elements you need for this
purpose.

One example is the element named <uicontrol>. The (excellent) DITA reference
says the following about the usage of the <uicontrol> element:

"uicontrol

The user interface control (<uicontrol>) element represents a button, entry
field, menu item, or other object that allows the user to control the
interface. This could also include a menu or dialog. For example, use the <
uicontrol> element inside a <menucascade> element when the menu item is
nested, such as *File* --> *New* . This element is part of the DITA user
interface domain, a special set of DITA elements designed to document user
interface tasks, concepts and reference information.

*Example*
Press the *<uicontrol>*OK*</uicontrol>* button."

And DITA has many more of these domain elements, like: command name
(<cmdname>), user input (<userinput>), system output (<systemoutput>),
window title <wintitle>, shortcut, screen, ...

For more information about DITA, see:

   - http://www.imap.dk/proddita.htm
   - http://dita.xml.org/




-- 
Yves Barbion
Technical Writer
Adobe-Certified FrameMaker Instructor
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