3. DITA map reference Previous topic Parent topic Child topic Next topic

3.1. DITA map menu Previous topic Parent topic Child topic Next topic

When a DITA map is opened in XMLmind XML Editor, the XML menu becomes the Map menu and this menu is populated with items which are specific to DITA maps. This reference contains a description of such menu items.

Convert Document menu

Note
  • proedition.gif This menu is absent in XMLmind XML Editor Personal Edition.
  • The items of this menu are all disabled if the document being edited needs to be saved to disk.
Convert to XHTML
Convert to XHTML [one page]
Converts the document being edited to multi page or single page XHTML 1.0.
Convert to HTML Help
Converts the document being edited to a .chm file. This command is disabled on platforms other than Windows.
Requires:
  1. Download and install Microsoft®'s HTML Help Workshop.
  2. Declare the HTML Help compiler, hhc.exe, as the helper application associated to files having a "hhp" extension. This can be specified by using the Preferences dialog box, Helper Applications section.
Convert to Java Help
Converts the document being edited to a .jar file for use by the Java™ Help system.
Requires:
  1. Download and install JavaHelp Opens in new window.
  2. Declare the Java™ Help indexer, jhindexer (jhindexer.bat on Windows), as the helper application associated to files having a "application/x-java-help-index" MIME type. This can be specified by using the Preferences dialog box, Helper Applications section.
Convert to Eclipse Help
Converts the document being edited to a directory containing various files for use by the Eclipse Help system.
Convert to EPUB
Converts the document being edited to a .epub file.
Convert to RTF (Word 2000+)
Converts the document being edited to RTF (Rich Text Format) using. The document generated by this command can be edited and printed using Microsoft® Word 2000 and above.
Requires downloading and installing the "XMLmind FO Converter XSL-FO processor plug-in " add-on using OptionsInstall add-ons.
Convert to WordprocessingML (Word 2003+)
Converts the document being edited to WordprocessingML. The document generated by this command can be edited and printed using Microsoft® Word 2003 and above.
Same requirements as Convert to RTF.
Convert to Office Open XML (Word 2007+)
Converts the document being edited to Office Open XML (.docx file) . The document generated by this command can be edited and printed using Microsoft® Word 2007 and above.
Same requirements as Convert to RTF.
Convert to OpenDocument (OpenOffice.org 2+)
Converts the document being edited to OpenDocument (.odt file). The document generated by this command can be edited and printed using OpenOffice.org 2.
Same requirements as Convert to RTF.
Print PostScript
Convert the document being edited to PostScript® and send the generated file to the chosen printer.
Requires downloading and installing any of the following add-ons using OptionsInstall add-ons.
  • Apache FOP 1.x XSL-FO processor plug-in;
  • RenderX XEP XSL-FO processor plug-in(1).
Convert to PDF
Convert the document being edited to PDF.
Same requirements as Print PostScript.

Changing the look and contents of the files generated by the Convert Document menu

There are two ways to change the look and contents of the files generated by the items of the Convert Document menu.
  1. Specifying custom XSLT stylesheet parameters. This is done by using OptionsCustomize ConfigurationChange Document Conversion Parameters.
    For example, selecting parameter group "Convert to HTML Help" and adding parameter number with value all allows to number the sections of the generated .chm file.
    The reference manual of the parameters of the XSLT stylesheets used to perform the conversion is found in XMLmind DITA Converter Manual - XSLT stylesheets parameters. This reference manual can be directly accessed from the "Change Document Conversion Parameters" dialog box.
  2. To a lesser extent, changing the options of the XMLmind DITA Convert (ditac) preprocessor. This is done by using OptionsCustomize ConfigurationPreprocessing Options.
    For example, selecting option group "Convert to PDF, PostScript" and specifying a .ditaval file in the "Conditional processing profile" field allows to filter and/or flag the generated .pdf file.
    More information about this facility in Section 7.
Note that a technical writer is not expected to know which parameter or which option is to be specified to get the desired effect. Unless she/he is the local guru, a technical writer is expected to post a support request to the xmleditor-support Opens in new window public, moderated, mailing list in order to learn this. But at least the two above facilities allow her/him to customize her/his deliverables without having to hand edit configuration files.

3.2. DITA map tool bar Previous topic Parent topic Child topic Next topic

When a DITA map is opened in XMLmind XML Editor, buttons which are specific to this kind of document are automatically added to the tool bar. This reference contains a description of such buttons.

Button Description
topicref_before.png Insert topicref before
Insert a topicref before selected topicref, topichead, topicgroup.
topicref.png Insert topicref into
Append a topicref child element to the selected topicref, topichead, topicgroup.
topicref_after.png Insert topicref after
Insert a topicref after selected topicref, topichead, topicgroup.
up.png Move up
If selected element is a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, navref or anchor and if this selected element is preceded by a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, navref or anchor, this command moves selected element one position up in its container element.
down.png Move down
If selected element is a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, navref or anchor and if this selected element is preceded by a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, navref or anchor, this command moves selected element one position down in its container element.
left.png Promote
If selected element is a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, itself contained in a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, this command removes selected element from its parent and makes it a sibling following its ex-parent.
Moreover, all elements that followed selected element in the ex-parent are also removed from this ex-parent and made children of the newly ``promoted'' element.
right.png Demote
If selected element is a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, itself preceded by a topicref, topichead, topicgroup, this command moves selected element at the end of its predecessor.
editDocument.png Edit referenced topic or map
Opens in XMLmind XML Editor the topic or map referenced in the conref, href or mapref attribute of selected element.
If this document is already opened in XMLmind XML Editor, this command brings its view to front and makes it the active one.
If this document does not exist yet, the FileNew dialog box is displayed and allows the user to choose which document (i.e. topic, task, reference, map, etc) is to be created at the location specified by attribute href, mapref or conref.

3.3. DITA map bindings Previous topic Parent topic Child topic Next topic

When a DITA map is opened in XMLmind XML Editor, additional keyboard shortcuts which are specific to this kind of document are automatically made available to the user. This reference contains a description of such keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcut Description
F2 Up Move up
F2 Down Move down
F2 Left Promote
F2 Right Demote
F2 e Edit referenced topic or map

 (1) Unlike all the other add-ons, the RenderX XEP XSL-FO processor plug-in is not self-contained. You'll need to download, install and activate RenderX XEP Opens in new window (for example, free Personal Edition Opens in new window) prior to using the RenderX XEP XSL-FO processor plug-in.