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Introduction to Dynamic Import

Dynamic Import manages the process of mapping XML and SGML documents and their components into SDL Contenta as objects.

It preserves the hierarchical structure of your original document and retains all SGML and XML markup. In addition, Contenta tools let you assemble and disassemble XML and SGML documents on-demand for editing in projects, creation of new documents, and/or for publishing.

Dynamic Import requires a Document Type Definition (DTD). On Windows systems, if your XML document does not have a DTD, Dynamic Import dynamically creates one using the Saxon DTDGenerator.

The mappings of XML/SGML elements to Contenta objects is stored in a map file. The map file can be used to import all documents that have the same structure or use the same DTD. You can create multiple map files, one for each type of document that you want to import.

Dynamic Import can also be used to create or populate a Contenta hierarchy, and import non-formatted data into Contenta objects. This allows you to import a directory structure into SDL Contenta and maintain the hierarchical structure. You may also configure the import to ignore the subdirectory structure and import only the data files (from multiple subdirectories) and place them in a Contenta container object