Metadata in Structural Design

[Daniel Emory <danemory7224@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Structure without metadata (i.e., attributes) is like
a balloon without air. Without extensive metadata,
structure design usually becomes a reductionistic
swamp in which element names attempt to convey content
description (and other information) instead of
hierarchical structure, which imposes upon authors the
onerous burden of choosing among myriad element names
at each hierarchical level of structure. When you go
down that reductionistic path, the resulting DTD/EDD
becomes meta-unstable, because the likelihood is that
content types will morph and expand over time,
requiring the addition and/or modification of element
names in the DTD/EDD. That means legacy documents
prepared using an earlier DTD/EDD version become
incompatible with the latest version.

The investment in converting to a structured approach
is considerable, and the return on investment (ROI) is
highly dependent upon exploitation of the information
management and reuse opportunities. Extensive use of
metadata maximizes ROI, not only because it simplifies
and stabilizes structural design, but also because it
provides the optimum way to manage, reuse and
selectively retrieve information.

And, although some regard it as heretical, attributes
can (and in my opinion should) also be used to specify
many types of formatting options because that approach
further simplifies structural design, makes the
DTD/EDD more adaptable to different types of
deliverables, and gives authors a modicum of control
over how information is presented.

I?ve developed an EDD/DTD named ProcBook which
implements these principles. FOR ANYONE WHO?S
INTERESTED, I?m offering a 3-page PDF excerpt from the
design description document which discusses the
attributes used to implement comprehensive information
management, selective retrieval, change control, and
single-sourcing. 

Dan Emory & Associates
FrameMaker/FrameMaker+SGML Document Design & Database Publishing
DW Emory <danemory7224@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

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