generate-dita-topic

name	generate-dita-topic
description	Generates a valid DITA 1.3 XML topic template for a given topic type. Use this skill when you need a correctly structured starting point for concept, task, reference, troubleshooting, glossentry, or base topic authoring. Output includes the correct DOCTYPE declaration, required elements, and commonly used optional elements pre-scaffolded.
compatibility	Python 3.9+. No third-party dependencies.

Overview

Generates a DITA 1.3 XML topic template from a topic type, title, and ID.

Usage

# Generate a concept
python scripts/generate_dita_topic.py concept "My Concept Title" my-concept-id

# Generate a task (writes to stdout)
python scripts/generate_dita_topic.py task "Install the Software" install-software

# Supported types: topic | concept | task | reference | troubleshooting | glossentry

Output

Well-formed XML printed to stdout, including:

• Correct <?xml?> declaration and <!DOCTYPE> with DITA 1.3 public identifier
• All required elements for the topic type
• Commonly used optional elements pre-scaffolded (e.g., <prereq>, <result> for tasks)
• Placeholder text {{FILL}} marking elements that need content

Examples

See assets/ for pre-rendered template examples for each type.

Common edge cases

• id must be a valid XML ID (starts with letter or _, no spaces); the script normalises spaces to hyphens
• glossentry does not use a conventional body element — output is <glossterm> + <glossdef>
• Task template includes <prereq>, <context>, <result>, <postreq> as optional scaffolding — remove unused ones before validation