The document discusses global project linking in MadCap Flare, which allows content and files to be reused across projects while maintaining centralized control. It provides an agenda and introduction to the presenter and their experience with MadCap Flare. The presentation then covers what global project linking is, how it can be used to maximize content reuse while managing large libraries, and demonstrates how to set up global links between projects to import and exclude specific files. Potential drawbacks are also mentioned.

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LINK YOUR WAY TO SUCCESSFUL
CONTENT MANAGEMENT
Making the most out of the Global Project Link Feature in Madcap Flare

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• Introductions
• Overview
• What is Global Project Linking
• Demonstration
• Questions?
AGENDA

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• Information Architect with Blackbaud, Inc.
• 15 years experience
• Varied responsibilities
- Creating and maintaining 1000s of pages of user-end documentation
- Technical-project lead investigating new tools, best practices, and workflows
for a 22-member documentation team
- Led team’s move three years ago to MadCap Flare
• Past presentations:
- Adobe FrameMaker to Madcap Flare at the 2011 WritersUA Conference
- Agile-based development process at the 2010 WritersUA Conference
- Structured authoring, trends in Technical Communication, and indexing at
various local and international STC conferences
• Part-time instructor at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH
- Teach the Technical Writing course included in the school’s Professional
Writing program
ABOUT ME

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• Global Project Link functionality available in MadCap Flare
- How it can be used to maximize content reuse
- While also helping you to manage large libraries of content
- How to link projects
- How to manage what content is included in each linked workflow
- Sticking points/issues
WHAT WE WILL COVER

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- We’ve been at over three years now
- This is why we selected Flare as our tool
- We’ve had great successes
- We’ve had headaches (version 8)
- We’ve seen it all…..
WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT I THINK?

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LET’S GET STARTED

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• Import content and project files contained in another Flare project
(parent project)
• Allows you to maintain information in one location but reuse it in other
projects (child projects)
• Process allows you to select which files you want to include and
exclude
• Bottom line:
- Build output pulling in content from several different locations
- Granular control
WHAT IS GLOBAL LINKING?

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• When you create a global link in a child project, you can:
- Automatically re-import before generating output
- Remove “stale” files (deleted, renamed, moved)
- Specify what type of files you want to include
- Specify what type of files you want to exclude
- Select specific files to include
- Add additional filters based on condition tags
WHAT IS GLOBAL LINKING?

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• For example:
- Include all topic (htm) and image files
- Exclude all template files: CSS, condition tags, masterpage
• Best to include template files in a separate “Template” import
- Include all content tagged with “Online” condition tag
- Exclude all content tagged with “Print” condition tag
WHAT IS GLOBAL LINKING?

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LET’S GO TO THE DEMO

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• It is complicated
• If you hurry, you will make mistakes
• Not for everyone
• Imports can hang/break
• Error message that stop the process and tell you NOTHING
DRAWBACKS

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• MadCap’s Global Project Linking Guide
• Feel free to contact me with any questions/observations/tips:
denise.kadilak@blackbaud.com
RESOURCES