Creating Processes

You can organize related task topics (procedures) into high-level processes. This is a valuable construct for complex or multi-part activities.

You can create processes by:

Adjusting the collection-type attribute and adding task topics (procedures) under the process topic. See Create a Process with the Collection-Type Attribute.
Inserting cross-references to task topics (procedures) in the process topic. See Create a Process with Cross-References.

Create a Process with the Collection-Type Attribute

You can create a process to organize a sequence of task topics.

Important: Linking created by adjusting the collection-type attribute is compatible only with the DITA Open Toolkit publishing scenarios with the args.rellinks parameter set to all.

Do the following:

Create a task topic that you will use as a process topic.
Create or find existing task topics (procedures) that you will use as process steps.
Create or find an existing map to which you want to add a process.

Open the map you want to add a process to.
Add the required topics to the map:
1. Add the process topic to the map.
2. Add the task topics (procedures) under the process topic.
For more information, see Add Existing Content to a Map.
Tip: To easily reuse processes, you can keep the process topic and the task topics in a dedicated process map and reuse the process map in multiple publication maps.
Add content to the process topic.
You can add elements like an abstract element, short description element, prerequisite element, and context element.
For more information, see Insert an Element to a Topic.

Figure 1. Process Example.
In the following example, a short description element and a prerequisite element was added to the process topic.
Set the collection-type attribute value of the process topic:
1. In the Content Editor, in the pane on the left, hover over the process topic and click the wrench icon.
2. From the collection-type drop-down list, select sequence.
  The sequence value causes the child task topics to appear as a numbered list in the parent process topic.

Publish the map that contains the process.

Create a Process with Cross-References

You can create a process by linking to procedures (task topics) with cross-references.

Do the following:

Create a task topic that you will use as a process topic.
Create or find existing task topics (procedures) that you will use as process steps.
Create or find an existing map to which you want to add a process.

Open the map you want to add a process to.
Add the process topic and task topics (procedures) to the map.
Tip: If possible, add the task topics (procedures) under the process topic. This way, the process topic reflects the topics' hierarchy in the map.
For more information, see Add Existing Content to a Map.
To the process topic, add steps, links to task topics (procedures), and other necessary elements.
For more information, see Insert an Element to a Topic.
Figure 3. Process Example

Gretyl's Portal

Heretto Help

Creating Processes

Create a Process with the Collection-Type Attribute

Create a Process with Cross-References

Footer Section

Our Support Team is here to help