Structured authoring enables effective content reuse

Content reuse is not just a longstanding goal in technical writing, but an operational necessity. However, the focus on methodology rather than structure can hinder effective reuse.

Text by Debarshi Gupta Biswas Samiksha Chaudhuri

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Structured authoring enables effective content reuse

Image: 马 亚平/123rf.com

With the unprecedented proliferation of content publishing channels, businesses have realized the criticality of delivering engaging content over various devices, media and platforms. Two elements enable technical writers to create content once and publish it myriad times for multiple formats:

  • Content reuse: You develop a piece of content, store it in your central source control, and leverage it for more than one work product belonging to the same output medium. One example is maintaining one copy of your definition of terms within your source control, and including it across the printed versions of your Getting Started Guide and User’s Guide.
  • Single sourcing: You develop a piece of content and use it for various media. An example is leveraging the same set of field information for your printed User’s Guide as well as for your Online Help for on-screen viewing.  

Employing the ...