Question for the Group: Create a Conditionalized or Hierarchical Book

[Lin Sims]

Hi Tony,

Pretty much what Laura said.

I maintain multiple guides that can have different chapters depending on
whether the information is for one customer or another. I have what I call
a "master book file" that contains all the files (this has to do with our
CMS and locating stuff, you may not need it), including the separate book
files for each version of the book. Chapters in common between books may
have conditional text or variables to further customize. Each book has a
separate document information file that records the chapters contained in
the book, the variables used and their values, and the condition set up for
producing a final. When I want to create a specific book, I open the master
book file, open the specific book file, open all the files in the book,
open the document information file, import conditional text settings and
variables from the document information file into all the book files, and
generate.

Good luck.

On Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 6:18 PM, Tony Marek (PDF) <tony.marek at pdf.com>
wrote:
>
> I currently need to create a new non-structured book in Frame 12 that will
> have one of three possible outputs (to .pdf).  I’m looking for advice on
> the best way to create and maintain the project.
>
>
>
> To simplify the problem: previously we had the Product A user manual and
> the Product B user manual – maintained and distributed separately.  These
> manuals are each at about 15 chapters and 800+ pages each, with little or
> no overlapping content.
>
>
>
> Now, my company has merged the two products into an optional third
> product, so that we have three possible product permutations (and manuals):
> Product A, Product B and now the new Product C (which consists of all of
> the components/chapters from both A+B).
>
>
>
> So my question is: what is the best way to merge the two document sets so
> that I can publish Manual A, Manual B or Manual C (A+B), depending on the
> customer.
>
>
>
> Should I conditionalize all the chapters under one book – so that I would
> only display and publish the appropriate chapters based on the customer —
> e.g. publish chapters set to Condition A, Condition B, or both conditions
> for Product C?  Or should I use the hierarchical book structure and then
> add/delete the subordinate book depending on the customer release?
>
>
>
> I have no experience with hierarchical books so I’m not sure what the
> benefits or drawbacks are.
>
>
>
> I could also simply add/delete the appropriate A/B chapters from the
> master book manually – but with 30+ chapters, this seems like it could be
> prone to mistakes in publishing the correct content.
>
>
>
> Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> ~Tony
>
>
>
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>
>
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-- 
Lin Sims
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