Stem Sentences in a Task Topic
As of 2018-2019, we no longer introduce procedures with stem sentences. Should a product be acquired that includes stem sentences, the guidelines below should be followed.
Stem sentences introduce a set of steps in a task topic. For example, the phrase "To create or export a map" could be a stem sentence introducing a set of steps.
The use of stem sentences is debated, and there is no explicit DITA element for stem sentences.
Style Guidelines
Keep the stem sentence brief.
Begin with an infinitive, such as "To..." and include a verb.
Do not add a colon or other punctuation to the end of the stem sentence.
The use of stem sentences is not recommended for non-legacy product content, unless it is necessary for clarity, especially in a lengthy article or PDF.
Insert the phrase as a <stepsection> above the first step and apply an outputclass of p-stem.
Code
<stepsection outputclass="p-stem"> To create or export a map </stepsection>