This column demonstrates how to use XML Schema archetyping (and style sheets) to control styling of data for various presentation modes. Ten code samples in XML, XML Schema, and XSLT show how the techniques work to reduce code bulk and simplify maintenance.

This introductory article shows how to create XML Document Type Definitions (DTDs) and well-formed, well-defined XML files that can be validated by the XML parser of your choice. While you don't have to include a DTD with every XML file you produce, doing so will make your life a lot easier. Not only will a DTD enforce the syntax you've established for your XML files, it will also allow your files to be parsed by a validating XML parser. Code samples include DTD and XML document examples.

The Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) is an XML-based architecture for authoring, producing, and delivering technical information. This article introduces the architecture, which sets forth a set of design principles for creating information-typed modules at a topic level, and for using that content in delivery modes such as online help and product support portals on the Web. This article serves as a roadmap to DITA: what it is and how it applies to technical documentation. The article also links to representative source code.