Global linking - Auto-include linked files

[benpal]

Trying to globally link to another project, I have created a parent project with just one topic. I have linked it to an existing (child) project from which I want to import a single topic containing a graphic.
In the Project Import Editor, I have selected to include Topic Files (*.htm;*.html), auto-include linked files, no exclusions, no tags

Unfortunately, the graphic doesn't get imported. What am I missing?

[Andrew]

Trying to globally link to another project, I have created a parent project with just one topic. I have linked it to an existing (child) project from which I want to import a single topic containing a graphic.
In the Project Import Editor, I have selected to include Topic Files (*.htm;*.html), auto-include linked files, no exclusions, no tags

Unfortunately, the graphic doesn't get imported. What am I missing?

I've never tried to do that ("cascade" an import through 2 projects), but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a defect (or by design). I'd contact MadCap Support if you have a contract, or if not, enter a bug report (https://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx).

The only possible issue I could see is if there were a condition you placed on the import that precluded the file from coming over.

[benpal]

Thank you for your reply, Andrew. Just to make it clear: Both the topic and its graphic are in the same child project.

In the context-specific help, this is explained as follows:

Let's say that the files you are importing contain links to other files. If you want Flare to automatically import those files as well, click Auto-include linked files. Not only will the immediate linked files be included, but any linked files from those files as well, and so on. It is a "domino" effect until no more linked files are found.

[i-tietz]

Let's say that the files you are importing contain links to other files. If you want Flare to automatically import those files as well, click Auto-include linked files. Not only will the immediate linked files be included, but any linked files from those files as well, and so on. It is a "domino" effect until no more linked files are found.

"Linked file" ... are you sure that means a picture inserted into a topic?

[Andrew]

Testing in a test project in Flare 7.01, I cannot duplicate the problem you list -- my PNGs are all getting imported. When the dialog appears showing you which files are going to be imported, does it display your image, and the import isn't working, or is it simply not showing up at all?

Have you double-checked to make sure the image is linked properly in the source (master) project?

[benpal]

"Linked file" ... are you sure that means a picture inserted into a topic?

You got a point there. I already pondered this question, but then I found this in the online-help:

Let's say that you have told Flare to import just one topic called "My Big Topic.htm," but you also tell it to automatically include any linked files. If "My Big Topic.htm" contains a cross-reference to a topic called "My Little Topic.htm" and it also contains a picture called "My Image.png," Flare will import all three of those files.

[Andrew]

I've verified that it brings pictures along for the ride. Flare definitely does this.

[benpal]

Testing in a test project in Flare 7.01, I cannot duplicate the problem you list -- my PNGs are all getting imported. When the dialog appears showing you which files are going to be imported, does it display your image, and the import isn't working, or is it simply not showing up at all?

Have you double-checked to make sure the image is linked properly in the source (master) project?

Yes, all the PNGs are checkmarked, and they all get imported. But my child project has thousands of PNGs and I only want to import those which are used on the few topics I want to import in order not to bloat my CHM file. So I unchecked them all. Of course I could only check those PNGs which are really needed, but that's a tedious job, especially since the file names are not "speaking" (a1045.png)
I expected Flare to only checkmark those, that are really used in the topics I want to import.

Same is true for the topics linked to the selected topics. Unless I checkmark them manually, they get not auto-included. But how can I make sure I only checkmark those that are linked to the selected topics? Some of the selected topics have tens of links.

[Andrew]

Testing in a test project in Flare 7.01, I cannot duplicate the problem you list -- my PNGs are all getting imported. When the dialog appears showing you which files are going to be imported, does it display your image, and the import isn't working, or is it simply not showing up at all?

Have you double-checked to make sure the image is linked properly in the source (master) project?

Yes, all the PNGs are checkmarked, and they all get imported. But my child project has thousands of PNGs and I only want to import those which are used on the few topics I want to import in order not to bloat my CHM file. So I unchecked them all. Of course I could only check those PNGs which are really needed, but that's a tedious job, especially since the file names are not "speaking" (a1045.png)
I expected Flare to only checkmark those, that are really used in the topics I want to import.

Same is true for the topics linked to the selected topics. Unless I checkmark them manually, they get not auto-included. But how can I make sure I only checkmark those that are linked to the selected topics? Some of the selected topics have tens of links.

What happens if you only select one topic? In my testing, when I selected one topic from a master project, the only files that showed up in the dialog to check or uncheck were the ones directly linked to that file (so, in my case, despite a project of a hundred topics and hundreds of PNGs, only 1 htm file, 1 CSS file, and 6 PNGs showed up in the dialog).

[benpal]

What happens if you only select one topic? In my testing, when I selected one topic from a master project, the only files that showed up in the dialog to check or uncheck were the ones directly linked to that file (so, in my case, despite a project of a hundred topics and hundreds of PNGs, only 1 htm file, 1 CSS file, and 6 PNGs showed up in the dialog).

Thanks Andrew. I did exactly what you did, but in my case, once I have selected the master project and click Import ..., ALL files of the master project show up in the dialog, obviously, because that's where I will select the topic(s) (e.g. summary.htm, intro.htm) I want to include in my parent project. I deselect all the files except summary.htm and intro.htm, because these are the only topics I want to import. My understanding is that "auto-include" should take care of the files linked to from summary.htm, intro.htm, even if I don't select those linked files specifically.

I'll keep on trying. Obviously I'm missing something ...

Update: the online help stipulates:

(Optional) Let's say that the files you are importing contain links to other files. If you want Flare to automatically import those files as well, click Auto-include linked files. Not only will the immediate linked files be included, but any linked files from those files as well, and so on. It is a "domino" effect until no more linked files are found.

[Andrew]

Thanks Andrew. I did exactly what you did, but in my case, once I have selected the master project and click Import ..., ALL files of the master project show up in the dialog, obviously, because that's where I will select the topic(s) (e.g. summary.htm, intro.htm) I want to include in my parent project. I deselect all the files except summary.htm and intro.htm, because these are the only topics I want to import. My understanding is that "auto-include" should take care of the files linked to from summary.htm, intro.htm, even if I don't select those linked files specifically.

Yes, I believe that "auto-include files" may only apply to getting the file list itself. So, basically, the "auto-included linked files" does not include linked files of the files that you select once the dialog appears listing your files; it includes the linked files in that dialog itself.

Where you have to specify the file is not in that dialog, but in the Import File Filter. Screen caps below show what I mean.








Then click OK again, make sure you specify to auto-include linked files, save the import file, and click Import.

[benpal]

Hi Andrew,

First let me thank you. I appreciate all the work you have put in for a "proof of concept".

The way you describe it does in fact work as expected. But this doesn't seem to be a very "friendly solution", since in my case I have to import some 20 each topics from 4 different projects. Typing 80 file names, spelled exactly as in the projects, is beyond my intellectual capacity

I'll continue to play around and will report any more favorable routes, if I can find them.

Thanks again! Cheers

[Andrew]

Hi Andrew,

First let me thank you. I appreciate all the work you have put in for a "proof of concept".

The way you describe it does in fact work as expected. But this doesn't seem to be a very "friendly solution", since in my case I have to import some 20 each topics from 4 different projects. Typing 80 file names, spelled exactly as in the projects, is beyond my intellectual capacity

I'll continue to play around and will report any more favorable routes, if I can find them.

Thanks again! Cheers

Glad I could sort-of help

One other option (not sure if you could do this): the files in those other projects? Add a little "code" to the end of their file name (such as "imprt1001" or something) and enter "*imprt1001.htm" as the file name. That would save you from typing in all those file names (assuming you can safely add a bit to the end of your file names).

[techwriter31]

Another option that I've used is to import based on conditional tag. You'd need to tag the files in the global/parent project with the appropriate tag, modify your import file (see settings below) and then import only the files that are tagged. The one downfall (in my opinion) is that when you conditionally tag a graphic file, Flare automatically creates an additional ".props" file for every tagged graphic, and both the graphic and the .props file get imported.

Import File - Source Project Settings:
Include Files = the appropriate file types (*.htm;*.html;*.png;)
Auto-include linked files = unchecked
Exclude Files = No Files
Import Conditions = set to conditional tag that was applied in the global project
Auto-Exclude Non-Tagged Files = checked

[benpal]

I have tried conditional tags as well. But you will have to know which files to tag with ImportYes. And techwriter31 rightly leaves Auto-include linked files unchecked, because even if one checks this option, unless the corresponding linked file is tagged ImportYes, it doesn't get included. In other words, tags take priority over Auto-include. With Auto-Exclude Non-Tagged Files checked, any linked files that I forget to tag with ImportYes (and there are thousands of graphics), will be missing.

The way I see it, the Auto-include option is not very helpful.

[feitelberg]

Has anyone tried global linking with auto-include and using svn source control? It seems that if the linked files are checked in, Flare wants to check them out when I build because of the auo-include option.

The problem with this is if I've checked in everything and then see a small mistake and fix it, some file that is not linked and want to rebuild the project, Flare prompts me to check out a bunch of files that have not changed.

The only workarounds I see are to check out all imported files or disable auto include and remember to manually reimport myself.

Any other options?

And BTW, is this a bug?

[feitelberg]

Let me also add, that if I do a checkout of the linked file while building Help, the status of the files becomes confused and I cannot check them in again when I'm done.

That is bug, I'm guessing.