Meeting Details

Options for Creating PDFs from DITA

Switching to DITA not only involves moving to a structured authoring environment, learning a new model for tagging and writing, but also means a change to the way you publish your content. It's a big step to make and shouldn't be done lightly, despite the enticing claims of cost savings and other benefits.

In this presentation, Scott will help with one small aspect of this authoring and publishing shift by going over the popular options for publishing your DITA XML content to PDF. You'll learn the basic requirements of publishing DITA files to PDF, and we'll discuss the features, pros, and cons of a number of popular PDF publishing tools. You'll also see samples of PDF output from each tool.

The goal of this presentation is to provide you with enough information to make a well-informed decision about the tool that's right for your needs.

Scott Prentice

Scott Prentice is the President of Leximation, Inc. and has been working in the technical publications field since 1991. His work focuses on custom online help development, FrameMaker (plugin and structure application) development, as well as custom web application development. He has been involved with DITA for many years and created DITA-FMx, an enhanced DITA authoring and publishing environment for FrameMaker. Scott is also the coordinator for the Silicon Valley DITA Interest Group (SVDIG).

Location:

YOUR PHONE and COMPUTER!

If you'd like to attend this meeting, we request that you RSVP to the webmaster so we can send you the phone number and ConnectNow URL. Note that space is limited, so RSVP early if you plan to attend.

We will be using Adobe's Acrobat Connect for the screen sharing. This has worked quite well at past meetings and requires very minimal setup. When you go to the ConnectNow URL, you'll be prompted to install Flash 10 if it's not already installed .. this just takes a minute (system requirements). If you'd like to make sure everything is set up properly, be sure to RSVP early and contact the webmaster for a quick test drive.

Note that our dial-in number is a toll call (605 area code, South Dakota), so unless you've got a good deal for long distance calls, you might consider using Skype to make the call (at only $0.021/min). This works quite well and comes to about $2 for a 90 minute call. To do this you just need to have a Skype account and buy some Skype Credit. (Contact me if you have questions.)

We will open up the virtual meeting room and conference call at 6:45 and will begin the presentation around 7:15. Please plan on joining by 7pm.

Schedule:

6:45-7:15 - Networking and announcements
7:15-8:15 - Program
8:15-8:30 - Networking and program follow-up

Dinner:

All refreshments at virtual meetings are BYO.   :)

Cost:

There is currently no charge for virtual meetings!