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Exporting and displaying graphics when you check out a module

This topic describes how to export graphics for display in your XML editor when you check out a module that references graphics.

You can configure the SDL Contenta S1000D checkout tool (<XML-editor-name> Check Out, Arbortext, or Arbortext Fetch) to export graphics along with the DM or SCPM that you are checking out from SDL Contenta S1000D. Referenced graphics are exported read-only to your checkout directory.

The exported graphics are displayed in your XML editor, which provides additional context while editing or reviewing a checked out module.

If using Arbortext Editor, when you have exported graphics and you subsequently use the Contenta > Insert Reference... option in Arbortext Editor to insert a reference to a graphic, the graphic is downloaded from SDL Contenta and displayed in Arbortext. If you have not exported graphics, Insert Reference still inserts the figure and graphic markup, but the graphic is not downloaded and is not displayed in Arbortext.

The graphics export behavior...
  • prompt: ask me during each checkout if I want to export graphics
  • yes: always export graphics
  • no: never export graphics
depends on your username > Settings > Graphics > exportReferencedGraphics AppData setting. If this setting is set to prompt, during checkout, a dialog is displayed that informs you how many graphics are referenced in the module, how many graphics are available for export, and prompts you about how you want to proceed.

If you have indicated that you want to export graphics (either via your AppData setting or with your answer to the prompt dialog), you see progress messages as graphics are exported, along with a Cancel Graphics Export button. If you cancel the graphics export, no further graphics are exported and any exported graphics are removed from the checkout directory.

After all graphics are exported, you are shown a list of any missing, inaccessible, or empty (placeholder) graphics. The SDL Contenta S1000D checkout tool also records detailed information about the export, such as the names of any missing, inaccessible, or empty graphics, in the GraphicsExport.log file in the checkout directory.

If using Arbortext Editor, the SDL Contenta S1000D checkout tool modifies exported graphics' entity declarations as needed so that the SYSTEM parameter contains only the graphic's name, not its path. The checkout tool also temporarily modifies graphicspath and isoviewfileformats in Arbortext Editor preferences as needed.

If using a different XML editor, exported graphics in the checkout directory are displayed if the editor is configured for graphics and the graphics do not contain pathing information.

If using Arbortext Editor...
  • The Contenta > Insert Reference... option lets you reference graphics stored in SDL Contenta, which then gives you the option to export and display these graphics in future edit sessions.
  • The Insert > Markup command in Arbortext Editor does not allow you to reference graphics stored in SDL Contenta (you can only reference graphics stored on the file system), so these graphics are exported or displayed in future edit sessions.