Generic topics

The generic or unspecialized topic type provides the base for other specialized topic types, and also provides a place to author content that does not belong in existing specialized types.

1. Topic structure All topics have the same basic structure, regardless of topic type: title, description or abstract, prolog, body, related links, and nested topics.
2. Topic content All topics, regardless of topic type, build on the same common structures.
3. Topic modules There are several modules that provide the basic topic elements and attributes. Some are specific to topic and its specializations, others are shared with DITA maps.

TOC: Architectural_Specification_1.1
Parent topic: DITA topics
Previous topic: Information typing
Next topic: Concepts

[edit] Why generic topics?

For specializers, generic topics provide an appropriate base for new specializations that do not fit the concept/task/reference mold. For authors, generic topics provide a way to author untyped content in DITA.

Although typed content is always preferable for consistency and processing concerns, the generic type can be useful when authors are not trained for information typing or when the currently available specialized types are inappropriate.

1. Topic structure All topics have the same basic structure, regardless of topic type: title, description or abstract, prolog, body, related links, and nested topics.
2. Topic content All topics, regardless of topic type, build on the same common structures.
3. Topic modules There are several modules that provide the basic topic elements and attributes. Some are specific to topic and its specializations, others are shared with DITA maps.

TOC: Architectural_Specification_1.1
Parent topic: DITA topics
Previous topic: Information typing
Next topic: Concepts