Would it be possible to add the build variable to the Manual Designer? I have one large manual from which i have many 'builds' depending on what's required. Currently I have different manual templates, one for each build. If I could include the build variable onto the manual template I would only need to maintain one template as I would use the build description as the manual title.
For Example I have a 'Getting Started', 'Reporting', 'Admin' and 'Complete manual' builds. I'd just like to show this as the title.
Thanks
Build Variable?
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Re: Build Variable?
You can't currently use build tags directly in Manual Designer templates. However, you can get around this restriction by using snippets:
- In any topic of your Help & Manual project create all the text variants you want to use and tag them as needed.
- Then select all this text, including the tags, and select File > Save Snippet in the Project tab (Manage Topics group) and save the selected text as an XML snippet file in your topic folder or a subfolder inside your topic folder.
- Make sure that this folder is included in the Project Search Path of your project in Configuration > Common Properties > Project Search Path.
- In Manual Designer, select Insert Text Snippet in the Pages menu, select From File and then select the XML snippet file created in the previous steps.
- Size the box so that it will accommodate the resulting text. You will need to experiment with this, because the snippet content is only displayed in your output, not in the editor.
Regards,
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
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Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Re: Build Variable?
I have just successfully used your approach to have a different image in the PDF page header depending on a build variable, Tim, thanks for that (basically a different design based on product model).
However, as the image from the snippet is included as usual, it is now selectable in the generated PDF. This is expected behavior but I would prefer this one not to be selectable, just like other images that are part of the design template - is there any possibility to force that behavior?
However, as the image from the snippet is included as usual, it is now selectable in the generated PDF. This is expected behavior but I would prefer this one not to be selectable, just like other images that are part of the design template - is there any possibility to force that behavior?
- Tim Green
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Re: Build Variable?
No, you can't selectively block parts of a PDF.MartinAP wrote:However, as the image from the snippet is included as usual, it is now selectable in the generated PDF. This is expected behavior but I would prefer this one not to be selectable, just like other images that are part of the design template - is there any possibility to force that behavior?
Regards,
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Re: Build Variable?
Too bad, thanks for confirming this.
I'd have another follow-up question: When doing this for a PNG, its transparent background is not preserved and becomes white in the PDF - is there a way to change that?
I'd have another follow-up question: When doing this for a PNG, its transparent background is not preserved and becomes white in the PDF - is there a way to change that?
- Tim Green
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Re: Build Variable?
Hi Martin,
PNGs with alpha transparency backgrounds are now supported in PDF. What is your Help+Manual version and build number? The current version is 7.5.3 Build 4740.
PNGs with alpha transparency backgrounds are now supported in PDF. What is your Help+Manual version and build number? The current version is 7.5.3 Build 4740.
Regards,
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Re: Build Variable?
Hi Tim,
I have the current build, version 7.5.3 Build 4740. I just checked - if I insert a PNG with alpha transparency into a topic of the project and publish as PDF, it correctly appears with a transparent background. However, if I include it into a Snippet which I then, in turn, include into my design template in the Print Manual Designer, it appears with a white background rather than a transparent one.
I have the current build, version 7.5.3 Build 4740. I just checked - if I insert a PNG with alpha transparency into a topic of the project and publish as PDF, it correctly appears with a transparent background. However, if I include it into a Snippet which I then, in turn, include into my design template in the Print Manual Designer, it appears with a white background rather than a transparent one.
- Tim Green
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- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2002 9:11 am
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Re: Build Variable?
That is the problem: Alpha transparency is supported in the project itself but not yet in the PDF templates.MartinAP wrote:However, if I include it into a Snippet which I then, in turn, include into my design template in the Print Manual Designer, it appears with a white background rather than a transparent one.
Regards,
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.
Tim (EC Software Documentation & User Support)
Private support:
Please do not email or PM me with private support requests -- post to the forum directly.