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Adding Targets

There are several types of online output (DotNet Help, HTML Help, WebHelp, WebHelp Plus, WebHelp AIR, WebHelp Mobile) and several types of direct print-based output (Adobe PDF, XHTML, Microsoft XPS, Microsoft Word, Adobe FrameMaker) that you can produce in Flare. There is also an output type that lets you generate DITA code from your project (DITA code can be used to create either online or print-based output). Each output type has its own set of advantages.

It is easy to confuse output types with targets, but they are two different concepts. A target is one instance of an output type. When you build your final output, you are essentially building one or more of the targets in your project.

Initial Targets Provided

By default, when you create a new project using one of Flare's factory templates, one new target is added to your project—depending on the format that you selected for your primary target.

However, just because you are provided with one target initially, this does not mean that you are limited to just that target in your project. In Flare you can add targets using any of the available formats, and you can make as many copies of an existing target that you want. For example, your project might end up containing three targets that are all based on the WebHelp output type (in addition to other targets).

A target file has an .fltar extension and is stored in the Project Organizer under the Targets folder.

Why make copies of a target?

Let's say that you have compared the different output types available and decided that HTML Help is the output type that best meets your needs. However, you want to produce two online Help systems from your project. The solution is to add a new HTML Help target or make a copy of another HTML Help target so that you now have two targets based on the HTML Help output type. You can then rename the targets to help identify them.

How to add targets

Select Project>Add Target. The Add Target dialog opens.
In the Source area select one of the following:
- New from template This lets you choose either a factory template file or one of your own customized template files as a starting point. The new file will take on all of the settings contained in the template. If you want to use a factory template provided by Flare, expand the Factory Templates folder and click on a template file. If you want to use your own customized template file, expand the appropriate folder and click on a file. Click here to find out what templates are all about.
  Note: In some dialogs and wizards you can click the Manage Templates button if you want to open the Template Manager. This lets you manage any of your template files (e.g., add new templates, enter descriptions for templates). See Managing Templates.
- New from existing This lets you choose an existing file of the same type—that you've already created and stored somewhere—as a starting point for your new file. As with template files, your new file will take on all of the settings contained in the file you select. To use this option, click the browse button , use the Open File dialog to find a file, and double-click it.
In the File Name field, type a new name for the target.
From the Output Type field, select one of the available output formats. You can always change the output type later in the Target Editor.
Click Add.
Click OK. The target is added to the Targets folder in the Project Organizer. The Target Editor opens to the right.

How to make copies of targets

Make sure the Project Organizer is open. By default, the Project Organizer is located on the left side of the interface in an accordion structure with the Content Explorer, unless you have previously moved it and saved the new layout. You may have to click the Project Organizer bar to bring it into view.
Double-click the Targets folder. The available targets are shown.
Click on the target that you want to copy.
In the Standard toolbar, click .
In the Standard toolbar, click . A copy of the target is added to the Targets folder. The new target is given the same name as the target you copied, with the words "Copy of" before it.

Note: In addition to regular targets, you can add batch targets to a project. See Building Output Using a Batch Target.

WHAT'S NEXT?

If you made copies of an existing target, you probably want to move on to renaming the targets.

If you added a new target and are satisfied with the name you gave it, do one of the following:

If you are going to produce just one output, move on to one of the other basic steps for developing a project.

OR
If you are going to produce more than one output, move on to creating condition tags.