Arguments and options for the dita command

The dita command takes mandatory arguments to process DITA content, manage plug-ins, or print information about the command. Options can be used to modify the command behavior or specify additional configuration parameters.

Usage

dita --input= file --format= name [ options ]
dita --install [ { filename | URL } ]
dita --uninstall id
dita --help
dita --version
Note: Most dita command options support several syntax alternatives. All options can be specified with a GNU-style option keyword preceded by two hyphens. In many cases, Unix-style single-letter options (preceded by a single hyphen) are also available for backwards compatibility.

Arguments

--input=file
-i file
Specifies the master file for your documentation project. Typically this is a DITA map, however it also can be a DITA topic if you want to transform a single DITA file. The path can be absolute, relative to args.input.dir, or relative to the current directory if args.input.dir is not defined.
--format=name
-f name
Specifies the output format (transformation type).
You can create plug-ins to add new output formats; by default, the following values are available:
  • eclipsehelp
  • html5
  • htmlhelp
  • javahelp
  • pdf
  • tocjs
  • troff
  • xhtml
--install filename
--install URL
Install a single plug-in from a local ZIP file or from a URL.
--install
If no filename or URL argument is provided, the installation process reloads the current set of plug-ins from the plugins directory. This approach can be used to add or remove multiple plug-ins at once, or any individual plug-ins you have already copied to (or removed from) the plugins directory.
--uninstall id

Uninstall a plug-in with the specified ID.

Attention: The --uninstall option also removes the corresponding subdirectory from the plugins folder.
--help
-h
Print command usage help.
--version
Print version information and exit.

Options

--output=dir
-o dir
Specifies the path of the output directory; the path can be absolute or relative to the current directory. By default, the output is written to the out subdirectory of the current directory.
--filter=file
Specifies filter file(s) used to include, exclude, or flag content.
Relative paths are resolved against the current directory and internally converted to absolute paths.
--temp=dir
-t dir
Specifies the location of the temporary directory.
--verbose
-v
Verbose logging.
--debug
-d
Debug logging.
--logfile=file
-l file
Write logging messages to a file.
--parameter=value
-Dparameter=value
Specify a value for a DITA-OT or Ant build parameter.

The GNU-style --parameter=value form is only available for parameters that are configured in the plug-in configuration file; the Java-style -D form can also be used to specify additional non-configured parameters or set system properties.

Parameters not implemented by the specified transformation type or referenced in a .properties file are ignored.

Tip: If you are building in different environments where the location of the input files is not consistent, set args.input.dir with the dita command and reference its value with ${args.input.dir} in your .properties file.
--propertyfile=file
Use build parameters defined in the referenced .properties file.

Build parameters specified on the command line override those set in the .properties file.