Processing conrefs
When processing content references, DITA processors compare the restrictions of each context to ensure that the conrefed content is valid in its new context.
@conref attribute is a transclusion mechanism similar to XInclude
and to HyTime value references. DITA differs from these mechanisms, however, in that conref
validity does not apply simply to the current content at the time of replacement, but to the
possible content given the restrictions of both the referencing document type and the referenced
document type.When content is reused between two documents with different domains or constraints, it is possible for the reused content to include domain extensions that are not defined for the new context, or to include elements that would be constrained out of the new context. When pulling or pushing content with the conref mechanism, processors resolving conrefs SHOULD tolerate specializations of valid elements. Processors MAY generalize elements in the pushed or pulled content fragment as needed for the resolving context.
A conref processor SHOULD NOT permit resolution of a reuse relationship that could be rendered invalid under the rules of either the reused or reusing content.