Object types
Content Manager stores content as modular objects, classified into types. You organize the objects to create your deliverables.
The following table describes the object types in Content Manager.
| Object type | Description | DITA term |
|---|---|---|
| Topic | A topic is an XML unit. It is short enough to cover a single subject or answer a single question, but it is long enough to make sense on its own and be authored as a unit. | DITA topic |
| Image | A graphical image that is stored separately from the module in which it is used. Authors insert links to images in modules; this facilitates reuse. | Image that is referenced by an <image> or <figure> element |
| Map | A document that describes the structure and content of a publication. It groups together modules to create a navigation structure or table of contents. | DITA map or bookmap |
| Publication | The combination of a map, contextual information about variables and conditions, and a specific output format. | Combination of a root DITA map plus the build scripts that define the output format and the context for processing conditional attributes |
| Library Topic | Small blocks of content, smaller than a topic, that are reused in different locations in a publication. Common examples might be warnings, cautions, notes, index entries, and more. | An element that is reused by the conref mechanism |
| Other (Word, PDF, ...) | Non-XML files, for example, PDF files, Excel spreadsheets, etc. | Not applicable |
| Folder | A logical construct that you can use to organize content . | Not applicable |
The following diagram shows the relation between the different object types.
