Global Project Linking - Quick Sync?

[sdcinvan]

Greetings all,

Since I have converted all my projects to GPL, I am also using the master for storing all common images and other common resources (i.e. snippets, etc.). This is working...like...awesome! Well except for the following pesky but oddly benign publishing errors:

Code: Select all

Linked file does not exist: ico_alert_NOTE_30x27.png - D:\_Projects\Flare\_Glb_project\Content\glb_resources\glb_images\icons\ 
Linked file does not exist: ico_alert_WARN_30x27.png - D:\_Projects\Flare\_Glb_project\Content\glb_resources\glb_images\icons\ 
Linked file does not exist: Default.flcts - D:\_Projects\Flare\_Glb_project\Project\ConditionTagSets\ 

I haven't been able to ascertain the reason for these errors b/c the images are working in the documentation *but* they are located in "\_Projects\Flare\_Glb_project\Content\glb_images\icons". The above folders do not exist nor are they referenced in any topic.

Anyhow, that wasn't the reason for this post.

Because I am using global images, when I add new resources to the global repository, I want to make them available to the project I am working on as quickly as possible. Using the Project Import function is too slow and too many steps (i.e. Import Flare Project > Select Project folder/project > Next > Select Includes > Finish > Close). Is there a quicker way? Specifically, I just want to update the global resources folder and it would be idea to have a one button quick 'sync' like I used to have when I used External Resources or mappings.

Is this a welcomed new feature request?

In the meantime, I am thinking of creating a quick xcopy batch file sync...
Like this:

Code: Select all

@echo off
rem set source folders to backup
set glb_project=_Projects\Flare\_Glb_project\Content\glb_images
set destination1=_Projects\Flare\770-00010_User_Guide\Content\glb_images
xcopy D:\%glb_project% D:%destination1% /Y /S /I /D  
exit /b 1

I wonder if it is safe to sync all the resource (i.e. stylesheet)? I am just concerned that I might overwrite an open file... probably safe but I'll wait for you folks to weigh in on this idea.

[techwriter31]

Once you perform the initial Import, you should just be able to just save the Import file and click the Reimport button within it. But maybe I'm not understanding the question fully!

For our projects, we have the Global project and a companion template project. The template project has an Import file that is preconfigured to import all of the necessary files from the global project. When creating a brand new Flare project, we first create the project based on the template project. Since the template project already has the preconfigured Import file, we just open it and click the Import button. It imports all global content. Going forward, we use this same Import file to periodically reimport content from global.

You can also configure either the target or the import file to auto-reimport when generating the output. However, there are several things to consider when using these options with projects that are not bound to source control, as mentioned in this post:
http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... 85#p103261

[sdcinvan]

Once you perform the initial Import, you should just be able to just save the Import file and click the Reimport button within it. But maybe I'm not understanding the question fully!

Thanks for your reply.
Where is this reimport button? If you are referring to the "Import" button? This is a pull-down menu that requires that I reselect the global project again. I know it is just a few steps but still more than just a quick one-click option.
Often times, I am adding one new image but I cannot add that new image, into my project, until the image is transferred/sync'd across to the global images folder copy, in the child project.

You can also configure either the target or the import file to auto-reimport when generating the output. However, there are several things to consider when using these options with projects that are not bound to source control, as mentioned in this post: http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... 85#p103261

Thanks for the link. I have auto-reimport turned on but that isn't really related to my post. I am wondering if there is a quick way (one-click type) to sync some of the global resources with the child project.

[ChoccieMuffin]

In the Project Organizer you have a number of folders. One of them is Imports, in which your import files are saved. When you open an import file the first time, the option at the top is Import, which changes to Reimport if you have already imported from this import file. If you make changes in your Globals project, open this import file and click Reimport. The resulting dialog box shows which files have changed or been added since the last time you imported.

This is a very quick and easy way to update the files in your child project that are imported from another.

Hope that helps.

[sdcinvan]

Thank you. Your reply is quite helpful. I had forgotten about this.

In my Imports folder, I have the following:
_Glb_project
_Glb_project1
_Glb_project2
_Glb_project3

In this particular project, there are three child projects (3 TOCs but 6 Targets).
By looking at the Imported Files listing, it still isn't clear which project each object represents but they are different.

Side note: I wish Flare remembered the column lengths for the Imported Files listing. It is annoying to have to re-stretch the lengths every time I open this tab. It might also help to have a third column listing the Import date/time.

One more thing...
During the Import, I would like to exclude entire folders. Is it possible to add in a folder name under Source Project tab > Exclude Files:

Thank you

[ChoccieMuffin]

I went into some detail about what I do (others may do it differently) in a different thread fairly recently. I'll have a dig to see if I can find it. That should give you all you need to know.



Edit: take a look at this thread, I think you'll find it helpful. But do ask if you have other questions.

http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... 75&t=19787