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. This argument corresponds to the common parameter args.input. 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).
This argument corresponds to the common parameter transtype.
You can create plug-ins to add new output formats; by default, the following values are available:
  • dita
  • eclipsehelp
  • html5
  • htmlhelp
  • markdown, markdown_gitbook, and markdown_github
  • 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. This argument corresponds to the common parameter output.dir. 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.
This argument corresponds to the common parameter args.filter. 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.
This argument corresponds to the common parameter dita.temp.dir.
--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.