RE: [dita] Topic type versus information type

Do we 
have user-friendly definitions for these somewhere?

 

For a dense, highly-technical definition, read the 
first paragraph after this one. For something lighter, try the second paragraph 
...

 

An 
information type is a class of representations of information, in which the 
information represented has common properties. In the case of XML 
fragments, the rules for membership in the class must be based at 
least in part on what hierarchies of elements are permitted. In the case of 
non-XML representations, the rules for membership typically are based upon 
the operations that can be performed on the representation, such as: for 
a graphic, rendering; for a multimedia object, play, pause, stop, and adjust 
volume.

 

A 
topic type is an information type consisting of topics or their specializations. 
In the DITA specification, I originally was thinking of topic as being the 
structure called topic and its specializations. Erik Hennum has been using topic 
to mean anything standalone, in which case practically any large-enough fragment 
would qualify, which blurs the distinction considerably but does not entirely 
eliminate it.

 

Best 
wishes,

 

Bruce

  
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Priestley 
  [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 9:41 
  AM
To: Paul Prescod
Cc: 
  
Subject: Re: [dita] Topic type versus 
  information type

I 
  believe they are close but not exact. Typically topic types are information 
  types (eg concept, task, reference), and topic-level information types are 
  often the main focus of an information architecture design, but other 
  information types are above or below the topic level (for example, tutorial is 
  an information type that may consist of multiple topic types; and within the 
  task topic type, the context and steps may be regarded as information 
  types). 

Hence the decision to use 
  "topic type" throughout the standard, once the relationship between topic 
  types and information types has been established. 

Michael Priestley
IBM DITA Architect and 
  Classification Schema PDT 
  Lead

http://dita.xml.org/blog/25 

  
    
    

      "Paul Prescod" 
        <> 
        
06/15/2006 08:53 AM 

      
        
          
          

            
              
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            [dita] Topic type versus 
              information type

        
          
          

            
            

Are the phrases "topic type" and "information type" 
  synonyms?

Paul Prescod