PDF processing for files containing multiple topics

Title: PDF processing for files containing multiple topics

Hi everyone,

I am trying to understand how PDF processors are expected to resolve <topicref> elements that point to a specific topic ID, when the topic ID is within a file which contains multiple topics. 

DITA 1.1 (http://docs.oasis-open.org/dita/v1.1/CS01/archspec/id.html) says: "If the target contains multiple peer topics organized by a <dita> element (as in the ditabase document type), then the reference is resolved to the first topic in the target, except in the case of topicrefs being resolved as inclusion directives (for example during PDF output), in which case the entire target file is included, regardless of whether a specific topic is targeted."

DITA 1.2 (http://docs.oasis-open.org/dita/v1.2/os/spec/archSpec/id.html#id) does not seem to say anything about "inclusion directives." 

 For example, say you have:

<map>

<topicref href=""MyComposite.dita#t2"/>

</map>

And you have a file called MyComposite.dita with the following contents:

<dita id=”someid”>

<topic id=”t1”></topic>

<topic id=”t2”></topic>

<topic id=”t3”></topic>

</dita>

Questions:

1) Which of the above topics should be included in PDF output for the map?

2) Is the expected behaviour for PDF output any different if the root element of the file is <topic> rather than <dita>?

3) If the intention is to have <topicref> resolve differently for different output types, what would be the purpose of having differences? 

Thanks,

Su-Laine

Su-Laine Yeo

Solutions Consultant 

JustSystems Canada, Inc.

Office: 1 (778) 327-6356



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