Draft

1.2 (2019-02-09)

DITA Element Reference

This is a draft specification. It is likely that changes will still be made before the final specification.

This page lists elements in DITA and provides recommendations for equivalent or similar functionality in Mallard, when available. This list includes elements that are specializations of other elements, because sometimes more specific recommendations can be made for specializations than for base elements.

Some specialization domains provide functionality that has no equivalent in Mallard, or for which a single recommendation can be made. The following domains do not have their elements listed explicitly:

  • bookmap

  • classify-d

  • glossentry

  • hazard-d

  • indexing-d

  • map

  • mapgroup-d

  • mitask-d

  • subjectScheme

  • xnal-d

This page does not list elements used in a DITAVAL file. Conditional processing is not addressed by the core Mallard specification, although extensions may provide this functionality. Additionally, this page does not list any of the highly specialized learning and training elements.

In general, Mallard does not attempt to model data as explicitly as DITA. Mallard allows elements and attributes from external namespaces and allows a style attribute on all elements. These mechanisms are preferred when additional semantic information is needed for tracking or validation.

abbreviated-form

No equivalent in Mallard. Future versions may address glossaries directly.

abstract

No equivalent as a block element. Use block content instead. For link preview text, Mallard provides this separately from the block content using the informational desc element.

alt

Media elements in Mallard (both inline and block) use their contents as fallback content. Fallback content can contain any content that would be valid where the media element occurs.

anchorid

Specific to DITA conrefs. No equivalent in Mallard.

anchorkey

apiname

No specific element in Mallard. Use the inline code element instead.

area

Mallard does not have image maps. Extensions may provide this functionality.

audience

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

author

Use the common credit element.

b

See the em element for details.

body

Mallard does not wrap page contents in a body tag.

bodydiv

Use the div element.

bookmap/*

No equivalent in Mallard, as Mallard documents are not mapped to linear books. Extensions may provide this functionality. For credits and other contributor information, see the credit element. For revision and review information, see the revision element. For other metadata, use external-namespace elements in info elements.

boolean

No equivalent in Mallard. Include the appropriate text in an element such as code or sys.

brand

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

category

chdesc

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Use a table inside a step to mark up a table of choices or alternatives.

chdeschd

chhead

choicetable

choption

choptionhd

chrow

choice

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Use a basic list inside a step to mark up a list of choices or alternatives.

choices

cite

No equivalent in Mallard. Use the appropriate punctuation, or the em element.

classify-d/*

Classification specialization specific to DITA's mechanism of organizing topics using maps; no direct equivalent in Mallard. See Automatic Links for details on automatic linking and organization in Mallard.

cmd

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Instructions for a step should use a simple paragraph.

cmdname

Similar to the cmd element.

codeblock

Similar to the block code element.

codeph

Similar to the inline code element.

coderef

Use XInclude.

colspec

See the table element for details.

component

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

conbody

Mallard does not wrap page contents in a body tag.

conbodydiv

Mallard does not contain a generic block container element. External-namespace elements may be used in a block content to group block elements.

concept

No specific element in Mallard. Use a page or section element instead, possibly with a style hint.

context

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Simply use a paragraph or other block content.

coords

Mallard does not have image maps. Extensions may provide this functionality.

copyrholder

Use the credit element to record copyright information. Use the name element to record the copyright holder. Use the years element to record copyright years.

copyright

copyryear

created

No direct equivalent in Mallard. The revision element may be used to record this information.

critdates

No equivalent in Mallard. Creation or revision dates can be recorded with revision elements or external-namespace elements in an info element.

data-about

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide additional data in info elements. RDF/XML may be used in info elements for structured data. Currently, info elements can only be used on page and section elements. Future versions may allow info elements on some block elements.

data

dd

See the terms element for details.

ddhd

Mallard does not provide header information for term lists. Use a table instead if necessary.

delim

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

desc

In a fig, table, or linklist element, similar to the block desc element. In a link or xref element, use the informational desc element on the target page or section. In an object element, see the processing expectations for the inline and block media element for details on fallback content.

dita

Mallard does not currently have a mechanism to include multiple pages in a single file. Future versions or extensions may provide this functionality.

dl

Use the terms element with item elements.

dlentry

dlhead

Mallard does not provide header information for term lists. Use a table instead if necessary.

draft-comment

Similar to the comment element.

dt

See the terms element for details.

dthd

Mallard does not provide header information for term lists. Use a table instead if necessary.

entry

See the table element for details.

example

Similar to the example element.

exportanchors

Specific to DITA conrefs. No equivalent in Mallard.

featnum

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

fig

Similar to the figure element.

figgroup

No direct equivalent in Mallard. The figure element accepts any block content, so you may use standard formal block element inside it, including nested figure elements.

filepath

Similar to the file element.

fn

Mallard does not currently have support for footnotes. Future versions may add annotations.

foreign

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may be embedded in most contexts, with well-defined rules for fallback processing.

fragment

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

fragref

glossentry/*

Mallard does not currently have a structured environment for glossaries. Use the terms element instead. Future versions or extensions may address glossaries directly.

glossgroup

glossref

Specific to DITA's mechanism of organizing topics using maps; no direct equivalent in Mallard. See Automatic Links for details on automatic linking and organization in Mallard.

groupchoice

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

groupcomp

groupseq

hazard-d/*

Specializations of notes. Use style hints or other extension mechanisms along with the note element.

i

See the em element for details.

image

Use the media element, either inline or block.

imagemap

Mallard does not have image maps. Extensions may provide this functionality.

index-base

Mallard does not currently have a structured environment for indexes.

indexing-d/*

indexterm

indextermref

info

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Additional information for a step should be written in additional paragraphs.

itemgroup

Specific to DITA's specialization mechanisms; no equivalent in Mallard. See External Namespaces for details on extending Mallard.

keyword

Use an appropriate inline element, or an external-namespace element if necessary. More specific recommendations can be made for specializations of the keyword element.

keywords

Similar to the keywords element.

kwd

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

li

See the item element for each list element for details.

lines

Use either the code or the screen element. Mallard does not have a non-semantic preformatted block element.

link

Different link types are aggregated automatically in Mallard. See the informational link element and the links element for details on automatic links.

linkinfo

linklist

linkpool

linktext

See Link Titles for details.

lq

Similar to the quote element.

longdescref

The media element in Mallard allows block content as children (or inline content for the inline media element). Long descriptions can be provided in fallback content. If you need to separate this into another file, use XInclude.

longquoteref

No equivalent in Mallard. To include content from another file, use XInclude.

map/*

Specific to DITA's mechanism of organizing topics using maps; no direct equivalent in Mallard. See Automatic Links for details on automatic linking and organization in Mallard.

mapgroup-d/*

menucascade

Similar to the guiseq element.

metadata

Mallard does not provide an additional metadata holder inside the info element. Simply place all metadata directly in the info element, possibly using external-namespace elements.

mitask-d/*

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Simply use a paragraph, list, or other block content. Style hints or external-namespace attributes can provide additional semantic information and display expectations.

msgblock

No direct equivalent in Mallard. For output from a running program, the screen element may be appropriate, possibly with an inline output element.

msgnum

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Use the sys element if necessary.

msgph

navtitle

See Informational Titles for details.

no-topic-nesting

Specific to DITA's specialization mechanisms; no equivalent in Mallard. See External Namespaces for details on extending Mallard.

note

Similar to the note element.

object

Media elements in Mallard (both inline and block) can embed standard image, audio, and video data. For non-standard embedded objects, the type attribute can be set to "application".

ol

See the list element for details.

oper

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

option

No specific element in Mallard. Use the cmd or code element instead.

othermeta

No equivalent in Mallard. Use external-namespace elements to record additional metadata about a page or section.

p

Similar to the p element.

param

Media elements in Mallard (both inline and block) can embed standard image, audio, and video data. For non-standard embedded objects, the type attribute can be set to "application". When necessary, additional parameters can be passed with external-namespace attributes.

parml

Mallard does not contain a specific element for parameter lists. Use a term list instead.

parmname

No specific element in Mallard. Use the cmd or code element instead.

pd

Mallard does not contain a specific element for parameter lists. Use a term list instead.

permissions

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

ph

Similar to the span element.

platform

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

plentry

Mallard does not contain a specific element for parameter lists. Use a term list instead.

postreq

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Simply use a paragraph or other block content.

pre

Use either the code or the screen element. Mallard does not have a non-semantic preformatted block element.

prereq

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Simply use a paragraph or other block content.

prodinfo

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

prodname

prognum

prolog

Similar to the info element.

propdesc

No semantic equivalent in Mallard. Use a regular table instead.

propdeschd

properties

property

prophead

proptype

proptypehd

propvalue

propvaluehd

pt

Mallard does not contain a specific element for parameter lists. Use a term list instead.

publisher

Use the common credit element.

q

No equivalent in Mallard. Use plain text instead.

refbody

Mallard does not wrap page contents in a body tag.

refbodydiv

Mallard does not contain a generic block container element. External-namespace elements may be used in a block content to group block elements.

reference

No specific element in Mallard. Use a page or section element instead, possibly with a style hint.

refsyn

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Use a section if necessary. Otherwise, use block content.

related-links

Different link types are aggregated automatically in Mallard. See the links element for details on automatic links.

repsep

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

required-cleanup

No equivalent in Mallard. Unhandled migrated material may be left in the original namespace, or it may be wrapped in an external-namespace element.

resourceid

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

result

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Simply use a paragraph or other block content.

revised

No direct equivalent in Mallard. The revision element may be used to record this information.

row

See the table element for details.

screen

Similar to the screen element.

searchtitle

See Informational Titles for details.

section

Similar to the div element with a title. DITA sections are lightweight formal blocks and are not like Mallard section elements.

sectiondiv

Use the div element.

sep

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

series

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

shape

Mallard does not have image maps. Extensions may provide this functionality.

shortcut

No equivalent in Mallard.

shortdesc

No equivalent as a block element. Use block content instead. For link preview text, Mallard provides this separately from the block content using the informational desc element.

simpletable

See the table element for details.

sl

No direct equivalent in Mallard, although the tree element will give similar results.

sli

source

No equivalent in Mallard. External-namespace elements may provide this information in info elements.

state

No equivalent in Mallard. Include the appropriate text in an element such as code or sys.

stentry

See the table element for details.

step

Use an item element in a step list for a step in a procedure. Mallard does not provide a structured element to mark up step examples or step results.

stepresult

stepxmp

steps

See the steps element for details. Mallard does not provide a dedicated element for unordered step lists or an informal steps element.

steps-unordered

steps-informal

stepsection

sthead

See the table element for details.

strow

sub

No equivalent in Mallard. MathML or other domain-specific languages may be embedded into Mallard documents.

subjectScheme/*

Classification specialization specific to DITA's mechanism of organizing topics using maps; no direct equivalent in Mallard. See Automatic Links for details on automatic linking and organization in Mallard.

substep

Mallard does not provide a structured element to mark up substeps in a step list. Nested lists can be used to mark up substeps.

substeps

sup

No equivalent in Mallard. MathML or other domain-specific languages may be embedded into Mallard documents.

synblk

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

synnote

synnoteref

synph

syntaxdiagram

systemoutput

Similar to the output element.

table

See the table element for details.

task

No specific element in Mallard. Use a page or section element instead, possibly with a style hint.

taskbody

Mallard does not wrap page contents in a body tag.

tbody

See the table element for details.

term

No equivalent in Mallard. Future versions may address glossaries directly.

text

No equivalent in Mallard. Use the span, which is similar to the ph element in DITA.

tgroup

See the table element for details.

thead

title

Similar to the title element.

titlealts

See Informational Titles for details.

tm

No equivalent in Mallard. Simply use the Unicode characters ©, ®, ℠, and ™ instead.

topic

Similar to the page element. When nesting topics, use the section element.

tt

Similar to the sys element.

tutorialinfo

No direct equivalent in Mallard. Additional instructions for a step should be written in additional paragraphs.

u

See the em element for details.

uicontrol

Similar to the gui element.

ul

See the list element for details.

unknown

See External Namespaces for details on extending Mallard.

userinput

Similar to the input element.

var

Mallard does not have a structured environment for syntax diagrams. Extensions may provide this functionality.

varname

Similar to the var element.

vrm

The revision element is placed directly in the info element and records revision information. Additional information about revisions can be recorded with external-namespace elements and attributes.

vrmlist

wintitle

Use either the app or the gui element.

xnal-d/*

Mallard provides fewer details in credits and other places where people or organizations are mentioned. External-namespace elements may provide additional information, including xNAL elements and RDF/XML using vocabularies like FOAF.

xref

Similar to the link element.

© 2010-2011 Shaun McCance
cc-by-sa 3.0 (us)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

As a special exception, the copyright holders give you permission to copy, modify, and distribute the example code contained in this document under the terms of your choosing, without restriction.

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