Can you open multiple topics at once?

[rrabil]

Painfully dumb question ... is there a way from within the Content Explorer to open multiple topics at once, rather than clicking to open one at a time? I feel like I'm missing something incredibly obvious.

So far I've tried selecting multiple files using Shift + Click, and then double-clicking to open them, but this doesn't work. I've also tried clicking File > Open in the hopes of being able to use the same technique, but no luck.

Any solutions? It's possible this isn't working for me because I'm running Virtual PC on a Mac, and I'm using the wrong keyboard combinations or something.

[RamonS]

I don't know of a way, but why do you want to open multiple topic files at the same time? You can only edit one file at a time.

[rrabil]

For the same reason as having multiple tabs in a browser open. It's nice to be able to quickly swap between multiple topics while you're editing one of them, so you can cross reference things.

Also, there are times when you have to make edits or add new content to many files. Why not open the 5-10 files you need to change all at once, rather than spending time double-clicking each individual one?

[LTinker68]

You can have as many topics open in tabs in the XML Editor as you want. You just have to open each topic one at a time. In other words, you don't have to close a topic in the Editor before you open another one. In my XML Editor, I leave the "What's New" topic in a tab, along with tabs for the Stylesheet Editor and the TOC Editor. The latter two are because I edit them often, the former so that I remember to update that topic prior to building. I'll open additional topics in additional tabs as I'm working. I leave those three tabs mentioned above open when I close the project, so the next time I open it, they're already in tabs.

The only thing you can't do is select multiple topics at once to have them open in multiple tabs, like you can select say 5 .docx files and have Word open 5 times with one file in each window. In Flare, you have to open one topic then open another topic then open another topic, etc., but each topic will be in its own tab.

[rrabil]

Yeah, I keep multiple tabs open all the time. I was just hoping you can open a bunch at once the same way you can with Word docs (as you mentioned). Alas.

Thanks for your prompt responses.

[phriend_o_phlair]

Thought I would add a bit here. I have about 300 topics I imported that I gotta edit. Nope, I can't find/replace for this. (ugh) I was researching this very point, and found myself simultaneously flummoxed, flabbergasted, and discombobulated. Here's my workaround... works well enough.

1. Open a Flare project.
2. Right click on folder containing files you wish to open:
   
   1.png
3. You'll get the old Open Folder in Windows context option. Go for it!
   
   1111.png
4. Multi-Select the files you (plan/desire/wish/hope/can't wait) to open. Drag them into the application. Into the... umm... work-doing area?
   
   11.png
5. Tabs for days!
   
   111.png

[cruitbuck]

Painfully dumb question ... is there a way from within the Content Explorer to open multiple topics at once, rather than clicking to open one at a time? I feel like I'm missing something incredibly obvious.

So far I've tried selecting multiple files using Shift + Click, and then double-clicking to open them, but this doesn't work. I've also tried clicking File > Open in the hopes of being able to use the same technique, but no luck.

Any solutions? It's possible this isn't working for me because I'm running Virtual PC on a Mac, and I'm using the wrong keyboard combinations or something.

YES. In Flare 12, select a group of files in the content explorer then drag and drop them into the xml workspace.

[tekwrite55]

Thought I would add a bit here. I have about 300 topics I imported that I gotta edit. Nope, I can't find/replace for this. (ugh) I was researching this very point, and found myself simultaneously flummoxed, flabbergasted, and discombobulated. Here's my workaround... works well enough.

1. Open a Flare project.

Thanks for your solution! I wanted to see if my header1 was in place and this helped so much!

[MattyQ]

I think one of the features that isn't very well known is the ability to select multiple files in the Content Explorer. Once you've selected those files, you can open them in the XML Editor using a method similar to the one phriend identified.

First, in the Content Explorer, click the Show Files button.

ChangeContentExplorer.png

Then, select the files you want to open (Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click), and drag them into the editor/primary pane/whatever you want to call it.

DragFiles.png

Note that if you already have a topic open, it's easier to drag the files onto the title bar of the editor (the gray bar of the pane in the previous image -- color may vary depending on UI settings and window focus).

[phriend_o_phlair]

Thanks for explaining that button, Matty! If it were a snake it would have, well you know...