Best way to reuse text for new project

[ccardimon]

I documented Project A using Flare. I have been asked to Document Project B, which is a re-write of Project A.

The old functionality is still there, but we have a snazzy new interface. Lots of content I wrote would be usable after I punch it up a bit. I need new screen shots.

What is the best way of saving myself a ton of work, and reusing the old text I have?

Should I copy and paste the old project modules over, one by one, and modify them as needed?

Should I import the old project and then weed things out. I don't want to overwhelmed the new project with items I neither want nor need, but I definitely want to save a bunch of stuff.

Suggestions?

[lacastle]

Use the original Flare project but add conditions for the new content? that way you could just condition out or in the old content and keep it as a "single source".

[ccardimon]

That's intriguing. I know basically how conditions work for topics, but not how they work for screen shots.

Can I say something like, use Topic A for this target, but use screen shot 2 instead of screen shot 1?

[lacastle]

you would put both screenshots next to each other in the text, and then condition one for A and one for B. even thought both show up in the flare interface, only the appropriately conditioned image will show up in the generated help.

[ccardimon]

I had no idea you could do use conditions with screen shots. Wow. That is cool. BTW, the number of posts attributed to you got reduced again.

[lacastle]

BTW, the number of posts attributed to you got reduced again.

hmm...i haven't noticed, but i also haven't posted as much lately.

[ccardimon]

Thanks for hanging around anyway. A new hot potato has landed in my lap, and I'll probably be needing the help!

[Andrew]

Conditions are probably the best way to go, provided you have to maintain both. If the original project will no longer be developed, however, I'd suggest copying the old project to a new project, or backing up the project (so you always have a copy of the old one for possible other uses, such as legal issues), and skip the conditions, as they will unnecessarily complicate things.

[ccardimon]

...If the original project will no longer be developed, however, I'd suggest copying the old project to a new project, or backing up the project ... and skip the conditions, as they will unnecessarily complicate things.

That's what I ended up doing.