You can create, manage, and publish variant content from both Author and Contribute. Author has some extra capabilities for working with variant objects.
This table compares the variant functions in Author and Contribute.
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Action |
Author |
Contribute |
|
For selected object, access variant options from right-click menu |
yes |
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For selected object, access variant options from ribbon bar |
yes |
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Localization Filter for the object lists |
yes, on the ribbon bar's Author tab |
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Create a new variant object |
yes, using the Variant menu options |
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Search for primary and variant objects (variants are stored in the same folder as the primary) |
yes, additional variant search option in Author |
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Variants and primary objects identified in the object list with icons |
yes |
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View variant criteria and values assigned to an object |
yes - in object list, book contents pane, topic banner, and using Variant menu options |
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Convert an ordinary object to a variant |
yes - right-click and main menu options |
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Edit variant criteria assigned to an object |
yes - using the Edit Variant option |
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Remove variant criteria from an object and break the link to its primary object |
yes - using the Remove Variant options |
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Filter a book using variant criteria values (to view and work in variant content) |
yes |
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Publish a book that uses variants |
yes |
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Create command line code for batch publishing |
yes |
Filtering variants in the Objects list
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In Author, use the locale options in the folder Filter located next to the Variants command group on the Author tab (on the main ribbon bar).
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In Contribute, the Localization Filter is located in the Options screen under the Object Lists section.
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Accessing the variant options for the selected object
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Author: Right-click Variant menu options (1) or the ribbon bar Variant options (2). Variant objects are displayed in the object list with a colored background and icons (3).
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In Contribute: Right-click Variant options menu only. The options available depend on the object you select (when you select a variant object the menu shows Edit and Remove options, when you select an ordinary object the New Variant option is shown)
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Create a new variant object
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Author provides both right-click and main menu options for creating new variant objects. The new variant object is created in the same folder as its primary object and is identified with a variant object icon. |
In Contribute, select an ordinary object then use the Variant option from the right-click menu. The new variant object is created in the same folder as its primary object. |
View variant criteria and values assigned to an object
You can view the variant criteria values in both Author and Contribute.
In Author you can view the criteria values in the book's content pane after using the book's filter. You can also view the values in the variant criteria columns in the object list. You can also view the criteria and values assigned to an object using the Edit Variant option from the main menu or right-click menu.
In Contribute you can view the criteria values assigned to a variant object in the Edit Variant window:
Update variant criteria values assigned to an object
You can update the variant criteria values in both Author and Contribute.
In Author you can update the criteria values assigned to the object using the Edit Variant option. Choose this option from the menu or when you right-click the object.
In Contribute you can right-click the object then Choose Edit Variant. Change the criteria values in the Edit Variant window.
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You can select a different value for the variant criteria using the drop-down list. (Note, do not use the Remove button to remove variant criteria from an object.)
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You can assign additional variant criteria to an object using the New Assignment button. Use the Search to display the variant criteria options, select the value from the variant's drop-down list, select the check box to the right of the variant, then choose Insert.
Remove variant criteria from an object
Variant criteria can be removed in both Author and Contribute using the Remove options.
In Author use the Remove Variant Association option from the main menu or the right-click menu to remove the variant criteria from an object and break the link to its primary object.
In Contribute use the Remove Variant option from the right-click menu.
Important: You should use the options for removing variant criteria and object links rather than just deleting the criteria metadata from the variant object. If you remove the metadata value the link between the objects is not broken, and this can affect object filtering.
Filter a book using variant criteria values (to view and work in variant content)
Author provides a book filter. When the criteria values have been selected and applied, the book displays the relevant content. Use the Editor to filter the book to work with content for a specific group of variants.
Publish a book using variants
You can publish a book with variants from both Author and Contribute.
In Author choose the variant criteria values in the publishing filter when publishing the book using the right-click menu or menu. You can also filter the book prior to publishing; this action uses the book filter selections as the default selections in the publishing filter.
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Using the Publishing Console in Author Editor you can also create the code used for command line processing. Select the book and publishing profile, then select Show Command Line and select the variant criteria values from the filter. The Command Line code is created for you; copy the code to your batch file and update the SQL library options or user credentials if required.
In Contribute add the book to the publishing queue, select the outputs for the publishing job, then use the popup filter to select the variant criteria values.
