Authoring - The properties of a content object

Each content object has a set of properties that determine the security, the dynamic behavior, the look and feel, the notification, the auditing, etc. Step by step you will learn more about these properties, how to use them and the way to assign them. Most of the time authors will not have to deal with the properties of a content object. Those properties could be assigned automatically while adding or importing new objects. In some cases the author could be prompted to choose a property the moment he is adding a new object. For example in the next image the author can select a print layout-out for his new book.

Selecting a property for a new object

Which property an author can choose, the selection lists from which to choose and whether the choice is optional or mandatory is determined by the administrator the moment the blueprints of the content structure in a project are defined.

If the author is authorized he can see and change the properties by clicking on the 'Properties' tab on the right pane. The security determines which property he is allowed to change. If nothing can be changed, then the 'Properties' tab is disabled. The next image is a book for which all properties can be changed, but this is rather exceptional.

The properties of a content object

The details of all these properties are explained in

Status

 

Projects

 

Connectivity

 

Security

 

Workflow management

 

Look and feel

 

Print lay-out

 

Feedback

 

Notification

 

Smartcontent

 

Metadata

 

Auditing

 

Templates

 

Authoring

 About HelpServer
 Starting up and logging on
 The basic working principles
 Introducing the Workbench
 Adding a new project
 Creating the content structure with folders
 Adding the content in topics
 Previewing the result
 Changing the object description
 Adding new objects at a specific position in the folder
 Rearranging objects in a folder
 References to content objects
 Using the work modes
 The properties of a content object
 The properties of a reference to a content object
 Copying, cutting, and pasting
 Removing
 Printing
 Publishing
 The object status
 Searching for changed content
 Recovering unsaved changes
 Enabling and disabling a reference in a folder
 Auto selecting a topic in a folder
 Controlling the levels in the folder structure
 Grouping topics in a folder
 Your profile and Workbench preferences
 Using the content in help and documentation systems
 Formatting the content
 Searching and replacing text
 Reusing content with shares
 Navigating with hyperlinks
 Navigating with pointerpaths
 Using bookmarks and jumps
 Duplicating content with clones
 Using tables
 Including media files
 Navigating to web pages
 Using embedded chunks
 Including html code
 Navigating with menus
 Using snippets
 Spelling checking
 Using the view mode
 Creating an index
 Creating a FAQ
 Creating a glossary
 Team authoring
 Working with projects
 Setting up structured authoring
 Generating file based output
 Creating printed output
 Importing files and folders
 Loading files in the project gallery
 Converting legacy content
 Including legacy content in real time
 Transferring objects between installations
 Smartcontent
 Notification
 Feedback
 Translating
 Customizing the look and feel
 User accounts
 Security
 Working with templates
 Working with metadata
 Versioning
 Auditing
 Workflow management
 Annotations
 Using event exits
 Appendix A: The URL parameters
 Appendix B: The object indicators
 Appendix C: Play Javascript