Reference topic
Reference topics are specialized from topic. They contain the standard topic elements, including title, short descriptions or abstract, prolog, a body, and related links.
Purpose of the reference topic
Reference topics provide data that supports users as they perform a task. Reference
topics might provide lists and tables that include product specifications, parts
lists, and other data that is often looked up
rather than memorized. A reference
topic also can describe commands in a programming language or required tools for a
series of maintenance tasks.
Reference topics provide quick access to fact-based information. In technical information, reference topics are used to list product specifications and parameters, provide essential data, and provide detailed information on subjects such as the commands in a programming language. Reference topics can contain any subject matter that has regular content, such as ingredients for food in recipes, bibliographic lists, catalog items, and so on.
The structure of the reference topic
The top-level element for a reference topic is the <reference>
element.
The <refbody>
element contains the main body-level elements of
the reference topic. Reference topics limit the body to tables (both simple and
complex), property lists, syntax sections, generic sections, and examples.
All of the elements of <refbody>
are optional; they can appear in any sequence and number.
Limitations on the reference body
The <refbody>
provides for an unlimited number of subdivisions in the
form of sections, examples, syntax sections, property lists, and tables.
Simple
and complex tables can appear within sections,
examples, and syntax sections. They cannot appear
within the property list or simple or complex table sections. Sections, examples,
syntax sections, table subdivisions, and property lists cannot nest; only one level of subdivision is permitted in the reference
topic.
The elements in the reference body
<section>
- Represents an organizational division in a reference topic. Sections organize subsets of information within a larger topic. You can only include a simple list of peer sections in a topic; sections cannot be nested. A section might have an optional title.
<refsyn>
- Contains syntax or signature content (for example, a command-line utility's
calling syntax or an API's signature). The
<refsyn>
contains a brief, possibly diagrammatic description of the subject's interface or high-level structure. <example>
- Provides examples that illustrate or support the current topic. The
<example>
element has the same content model as<section>
. <table>
- Organizes information according into a rows and columns. Table markup also allows for more complex structures, including spanning rows and columns, as well as table captions.
<simpletable>
- Holds information in regular rows and columns and does not allow a caption.
<properties>
- Lists properties of a subject and their types, values, and descriptions.
<refsyn>
element.
<reference id="boldproperty"> <title>Bold property</title> <shortdesc>(Read-write) Whether to use a bold font for the specified text string.</shortdesc> <refbody> <refsyn> <synph> <var>object</var><delim>.</delim><kwd>Font</kwd><delim>.</delim> <kwd>Bold</kwd><delim> = </delim><var>trueorfalse</var> </synph> </refsyn> <properties> <property> <proptype>Data type</proptype> <propvalue>Boolean</propvalue> </property> <property> <proptype>Legal values</proptype> <propvalue>True (1) or False (0)</propvalue> </property> </properties> </refbody> </reference>
<property>
element.
<reference id="oiltypes"> <title>Oil Types</title> <shortdesc>The tables provide the recommended oil types.</shortdesc> <refbody> <properties> <prophead> <proptypehd>Oil type</proptypehd> <propvaluehd>Oil brand</propvaluehd> <propdeschd>Appropriate use</propdeschd> </prophead> <property> <proptype>Primary oil</proptype> <propvalue>A1X<propvalue> <propdesc>Appropriate for one-cylinder engines</propdesc> </property> <property> <proptype>Secondary oil</proptype> <propvalue>B2Z</propvalue> <propdesc>Appropriate for two-cylinder engines</propdesc> </property> </properties> </refbody> </reference>