Sharing Baselines
An Content Manager publication baseline identifies all objects in the publication by their GUID and version.
When you create a publication a baseline is created for it. The baseline contains information about the versions of the objects in the publication. Each object that is added to your publication is added to the baseline along with the version that is selected for the publication.
When you create a new publication you can use an existing baseline, that is, share the baseline of another publication. There are specific use cases for when you would consider doing this. Consider this scenario:
- Installation procedures for UNIX systems
- Installation procedures for Windows systems
Both publications use the map named Installing which references the following topics:
| Topic title | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction | General information about installing the software. To be included in both the UNIX and Windows publications. |
| Platform requirements | Information about the third-party platform requirements including the OS that is supported with the software. This topic contains information about the OS and versions that are qualified and supported for the installation. One paragraph has been devoted to UNIX and one to Windows.
The following conditions have been appropriately applied to the two paragraphs that describe the UNIX and Windows versions:
All other information is the same for both platforms. To be included in both the UNIX and Windows publications |
| Installation Procedure | Steps through the installation prompts and what you must do. The procedure is the same for both platforms and is to be included in both publications. |
| Post installation configuration on UNIX | Contains procedures for completing the installation that is specific to UNIX systems. The reference in the Installing map to this topic is marked with the condition: UNIX Only to be included in the publication, Installation procedures for UNIX systems. |
| Post installation configuration on Windows | Contains procedures for completing the installation that is specific to Windows systems. The reference in the Installing map to this topic is marked with the condition: Windows Only to be included in the publication, Installation procedures for Windows systems. |
| Testing the installation | Describes how to use the application to test the installation. The procedure is the same for both platforms and is to be included in both publications. |
Two publications are created, each specific to the OS on which the installation is being performed:
| Publication | Publication Condition Context | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Installation procedures for UNIX systems | Publication has the UNIX condition set to include. | Published content contains UNIX specific content. |
| Installation procedures for Windows systems | Publication has the Windows condition set to include. | Published content contains Windows specific content. |
One benefit of sharing a baseline is if you use the same baseline, you are ensured that both publications use the same version of objects. For example:
- If I open the Installation procedures for UNIX systems publication and create a new version of the Installation Procedure topic. The new version of the topic is part of the baseline for this publication but knowing that this information is the same for the Installation procedures for Windows systems I want to be sure that the new version of the topic is also included in that publication.
- If you are sharing the baseline, then when the baseline of the Installation procedures for UNIX systems is updated to include a new version of a topic or graphic you are ensured that the baseline of the Installation procedures for Windows systems is also is updated to include the new version.
- If the baseline was not shared, you must manually select the new version for the Installation procedures for Windows systems publication because that publication's baseline is not changed by modifications to the Installation procedures for UNIX systems.
- I can use autocomplete for both publications at the same time.
- When I freeze the baseline, I am ensured that the same topics and versions are frozen in both publications.