Reusing parameter entities in
attributes can save you a lot of
time. If you have several elements using the exact same attribute,
you only
have to input the information once (into an entity).
About this task
The
following instructions were written for the Resource
perspective, but they will also work in many other perspectives.
You
can create a DTD that reuses internal parameter entities in attributes.
To
reuse internal parameter entities in attributes, follow these steps:
Procedure
- In the workbench, create a new DTD.
- Add a new entity to the DTD you just created.
- Select Parameter from the Entity
type list, and type a value in the Entity Value field.
- Create an element and add an attribute to it.
- If you want to reuse the entity in an attribute
name, in the Name field
for the attribute, type the name of the entity (that is, %NewEntity;)
then
in the Type field, select the type for the
attribute. Tip: If you want to use an entity to
replace an entire attribute
definition, select (none) from the Type list.
- If you want to reuse the entity as the type of an
attribute, type
the name of the attribute, and, in the Type field,
click the name of the entity you created in step 2.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 or 4 and 6 as applicable.
Results
You now have two attributes with the same name or type.
Example
The following sample shows how you might reuse internal
parameter
entities in an attribute type.
You are making a list of office
supplies,
and all your supplies have Part and Stock attributes.
- Create
a new DTD called OfficeSupplies.dtd .
- Add
an entity called PartStock. Select Parameter from
the Entity type list. In the Entity
Value field,
type Part ID #REQUIRED Stock CDATA #IMPLIED.
- Add three new elements to OfficeSupplies.dtd: pen, paper,
and pencils. Make the value of each element (#PCDATA).
- Right-click pen and click Add
Attribute.
In the Name field for the attribute, type ID_Numbers.
In the Type field, click %PartStock;.
- Repeat step 4 for paper and pencils.
You now have three elements with the same attribute.