Target format
The target format for technical writing is the medium through which the audience will access the content. This is distinct from the source format in which the technical writer initially creates the content. The single-sourcing process allows multiple deliverables in various formats to be generated from a single source format.
From validated source files, deliverables are generated using one of the following methods:
| Publication Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Fully Automatic | A white paper going from the DITA XML structured format to a PDF target format via the DITA-OT. |
| Semi-Automatic | Content in DITA XML format exported to HTML, then pasted into a CMS. |
| Manual | A marketing brochure in word-processing format, or DITA XML laid out in InDesign, exported as PDF, then printed. Depending on how often the final document is published, XML import filters can also be set up to partially automate this step. |
The more automated the process, the lower the risk of error, and the easier it is to publish and update. Automation also facilitates single-sourcing, enabling the generation of multiple deliverables in different target formats from the same source format. A project in DITA XML format can be delivered as a PDF file, Windows compiled help, JavaHelp, an HTML site, and more - the formats and tools article explains how the choice of format shapes these possibilities. In this regard, XML offers nearly unlimited possibilities.