Create a new variant

Object Variants

Variant criteria are created in Author-it Administrator, in the same configuration window that you use to create a variable.

Important: Existing variables (especially if they are currently in use) should not be converted to variant criteria; when you create variant criteria you should always start with a new window. Once variables have been converted into variant criteria they cannot be used as variables in topics, or used to assign variable metadata to topic or book objects. The check box for changing variables to variant criteria cannot be cleared when criteria are associated with variant objects.

Create Variant Criteria

To create the variant criteria:

  1. Open your library using Author-it Administrator.
  2. Go to Variables > Maintain Variables from the main menu. The Variables window opens.
  3. Click Add. The Variable default settings window opens.
  4. Type a Name for the variable. Choose a name that is unique and will not be used to describe any other criteria.

    Note: The name may only contain the characters 0-9, a-z, A-Z and _ (underscore). The name cannot include a pipe "|" or semi colon ";" (these characters are reserved for use in the command line syntax).

  5. In the Display Name field, type a column name that will be used in the column header bar in the object list. If you leave the field blank, the column won't display in the object list.
  6. Click List of Values as the variable type.
  7. Select the [...] button next to Value. The List of Values window opens.
    • Click Add then type a variant value in a new line.
    • (Optional) Use the arrows to change the order level of the values.
  8. Select the This is a Variant Criteria check box.
  9. Assign the variant Priority.
  10. (Optional) Select Allow Multi Selectto allow multiple values to be assigned to a single object.
  11. Click OK to save the variable.

    State List of Values

    Release List of Values

  • Click OK when all of the values have been added.