easyDITA Ask the Expert Series: Taxonomy - why you need to move beyond standard metadata 2012-07-25

easyDITA Ask the Expert Series:Taxonomy: When you need to move beyond standard metadata

Amber Swope

DITA Strategies

July 25, 2012

copyright DITA Strategies, Inc. 2012

AMBER SWOPE

JULY 25 , 2012

Taxonomy: why you need to move beyond standard metadata

Overview

IntroductionTaxonomy overviewDITA subjectScheme supportDefining classification valuesApply classification valuesManaging the taxonomyQuestions

Introduction

Amber Swope DITA Specialist, DITA Strategies, Inc. Over 20 years of experience in the industry at multiple

companies of varying sizes and industries Supported information developers producing DITA

content in Rational group at IBM Author of numerous papers/presentations on

information development and information architecture, including the DITA Maturity Model (with Michael Priestley)

Taxonomy overview

“A taxonomy is simply a hierarchical collection of categories used to organize

information.”

--“Building Enterprise Taxonomies” by Darin L. Stewart

Taxonomy Example

Haeckel microbe classification

3 main classes Protista (microscopic) Plantae (plants) Animalia (animals)

When to invest in taxonomy?

Users can’t find what they’re looking for on Web site or portal

Content creators can’t find content to edit or reuse

Processing requires controlled metadata values

Users want dynamic content delivery or personalized content

When search isn’t enough

Search returns a list of items that simply contain the searched for word or phrase

With taxonomy search can return list of items that contains the searched terms, synonyms and related terms

When index and keywords aren’t enough

Index lists items based on a defined set of labels (metadata) that applies to the content, usually based on keywords

Taxonomy is also a list of values, but has a richer set of relationships and can be used as authoritative source for index terms and other purposes (like search)

Poll: How familiar are you with DITA?

1. I am totally unfamiliar.2. I am familiar with the concept, but haven’t

used it.3. I have created DITA content.4. I’m writing a book about it.

When processing requires controlled values

Processing refers to transformation of DITA source into deliverables and uses metadata to profile and filter content

Use of <data> elements in DITA with manually typed values invites errors

Specialization of <data> elements requires updates to your module files every time you need to add a new value

Content management system configuration requires customization to your system

When users want dynamic content delivery

Dynamic content allows users to specify context for information retrieval

Control display with classification by providing selectable faceted navigation and search values

Provide audience-specific labels or synonyms that are managed in the taxonomy

What does DITA 1.2 provide?

subjectScheme support for defining and applying taxonomy values Definition using specialized DITA maps Application using topic references in maps or DITA

attributes Uses key referencing support

Relationships hasInstance hasPart hasKind hasNarrower hasRelated

Why use subjectScheme?

It is available out-of-the-box (OOTB) with DITA 1.2.You can define the taxonomy in XML.You can control the taxonomy values in DITA maps

in your repository.You can update the taxonomy values without having

to update specialized files (versus specialized <data> elements).

You can apply the values in the maps and topics.You can do an initial implementation without making

a major investment into a taxonomy management tool.

It is tool-independent.copyright DITA Strategies, Inc. 2012

Defining taxonomy

Who creates the taxonomy? Understands content structure Knows how users will retrieve or search for content Is familiar with content subject matter Understands content relationships and taxonomy

principlesWho is involved as stakeholders?

Subject matter experts Product managers Usability experts Web site designers (or whoever controls user access to

content or deliverables) Terminology “masters”

Poll: Are you currently using taxonomy for any of the following?

1. CMS metadata2. Indexing or keywords3. Search enhancement4. Not using5. Other

Example: vehicles

Classifications Brand Model Year Type of vehicle Terrain for which it is designed to be used Famous vehicles …

Defining taxonomy with subjectScheme

1. Create taxonomy classification and values in subjectScheme maps

2. Specify the relationship between the classes

Relationship: hasInstance

Class=brandValues

Audi BMW Cadillac Chevrolet Dodge Ford Kia Toyota Volkswagen

brandAudi

Cadillac

Chevrolet

Toyota

Volkswagen

hasInstance Map

<subjectScheme processing-role="resource-only" toc="no"> <hasInstance> <subjectdef keys="brand"> <subjectHead> <subjectHeadMeta><navtitle>Brand</navtitle></subjectHeadMeta> </subjectHead> <subjectdef keys="audi"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Audi</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="bmw">

<topicmeta><navtitle>BMW</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="chevy"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Chevrolet</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> … </subjectdef> </hasInstance></subjectScheme>

Relationship: hasKind

Class=vehicle typeValues

ambulance compact convertible coupe crossover pickup truck sedan SUV van wagon

typeambulanc

compact

convertible

crossover

pickup truck

hasKind Map

<subjectScheme processing-role="resource-only" toc="no"> <hasKind> <subjectdef keys="type"> <subjectHead> <subjectHeadMeta><navtitle>Type</navtitle></subjectHeadMeta> </subjectHead> <subjectdef keys="ambulance"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Ambulance</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="compact"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Compact</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="convertible">

<topicmeta><navtitle>Convertible</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> … </subjectdef> </hasKind></subjectScheme>

Relationship: hasNarrower

Class=Transportation vehicles

Values airplane regional jet automobile van sedan train

Transportation vehicles

airplane regional jet

automobile

hasNarrower Map

<subjectScheme processing-role="resource-only" toc="no"> <hasNarrower> <subjectdef keys="transportation_vehicles"> <subjectHead> <subjectHeadMeta><navtitle>Transportation Vehicles</navtitle> </subjectHeadMeta> </subjectHead> <subjectdef keys="plane"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Airplane</navtitle></topicmeta>

<topicmeta><navtitle>Regional jet</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> </hasNarrower> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="auto">

<topicmeta><navtitle>Automobile</navtitle></topicmeta> …

</subjectdef> </hasNarrower></subjectScheme>

Relationship: hasInstance

Class=Famous automobiles

Values Batmobile Bullitt Christine Ectomobile (Ecto-1) The General Lee The Love Bug

(Herbie) KITT

Famous automobile

Batmobile

Bullitt

Christine

Ectomobile (Ecto-1)

The General

The Love Bug

(Herbie)

hasInstance Map

<subjectScheme processing-role="resource-only" toc="no"> <hasInstance> <subjectdef keys="famous_autos"> <subjectHead> <subjectHeadMeta><navtitle>Famous Automobiles</navtitle> </subjectHeadMeta> </subjectHead> <subjectdef keys="batmobile"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Batmobile</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="bullitt">

<topicmeta><navtitle>Bullitt</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef> <subjectdef keys="christine"> <topicmeta><navtitle>Christine</navtitle></topicmeta> </subjectdef>

… </subjectdef> </hasInstance></subjectScheme>

Poll: Does your team use relationship tables?

1. No2. Yes, but in a limited manner3. Yes, we use them for all non-hierarchical

Relationship: hasRelated

Goal is to relate hierarchies to each otherRelationships

Brand relates to vehicle type Type relates to terrain

subjectRelTable subjectRole – like relrow, relates subjects in the same

row subject – contains set of related subjects

hasRelated in relationship table header

<subjectScheme> <subjectRelTable toc="no"> <title>VW Relationships</title> <subjectRelHeader> <subjectRole> <subjectdef keyref="brand"> <hasRelated> <subjectdef keyref="type"/> </hasRelated> </subjectdef> </subjectRole> <subjectRole"> <subjectdef keyref="type"> <hasRelated> <subjectdef keyref="terrain"/> </hasRelated> </subjectdef> </subjectRole> <subjectRole> <subjectdef keyref="terrain"/> </subjectRole> </subjectRelHeader>

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

hasRelated in relationship table

Applying taxonomy values

What roles are appropriate for the responsibility? Leads Information architects Subject matter experts (SMEs)

When do they apply values to content? At creation At review Upon completion

Applying taxonomy values with subjectScheme

1. Apply to entire maps2. Apply to entire topics3. Apply to elements within topics

Map and topic values

Whole map Value=car

Whole topic Within topic reference Value=brand Value=model Value=category Value=year

Content Map

<map id="famous_autos"> <title>Famous Automobiles</title> <topicsubject> <subjectref keyref="car"/> </topicsubject> <topicref href="batmobile.dita"> <topicsubject> <subjectref keyref="ford"/> <subjectref keyref="futura"/> <subjectref keyref="convertible"/> <subjectref keyref="1955"/> </topicsubject> </topicref> <topicref href="bullitt.dita"> <topicsubject> <subjectref keyref="ford"/> <subjectref keyref="mustang"/> <subjectref keyref="fastback"/> <subjectref keyref="1968"/> </topicsubject> </topicref> …</map>

References value from brand classification

References value from model classification

References value from category classification

References value from year classification

Element values

Based on conditional processing attributesRelates defined classification values to

processing attributes

Managing taxonomy

Governance (it’s not a dirty word!) Authority and responsibility for classification Role in term definitions

Negotiation and collaboration

Communication

Managing taxonomy values with subjectScheme

1. Create classification maps in repository2. Apply permissions control to the maps3. When values need to be added, check out

map, update values, and then check in.4. Apply new values to content.

Summary

Create classifications to meet customer requirements

Get the right people involved from the beginning

Agree with stakeholders on who owns the classification definition and maintenance

Understand how the values will be applied

Communicate the plan

Questions

<dita strategies>amber@ditastrategies.com

503.922.3038copyright DITA Strategies, Inc. 2012

Thank you for attending!

• Recorded webcast will be available soon through our website – you will get an email with the link or use this one:– https://www4.gotowebinar.com/register/520907039

• Anyone can register after the event to view the recording• Slides will be available on SlideShare

– www.slideshare.net/easydita

• Next webcast August 29, featuring Joe Gelb of Suite Solutions, discussing Dynamic Content Meets Social Engagement - Using DITA to Drive A Better Customer Experience. Please join us!

• Please take our survey on The State of Collaboration– http://ow.ly/cuyVU

• Joe Gelb presentation on Subject Scheme classification:– http://www.slideshare.net/IntelligentContent/dita-classificationandsubjectschemej-gelb

easyDITA Ask the Expert Series: Taxonomy - why you need to move beyond standard metadata 2012-07-25

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