When you create a module/section, the New Module or New Section dialog box opens giving you the opportunity to set certain document properties. Most of the default properties that appear are inherited from the settings in Tools, Options. Module and section documents contain the same properties. You can change the properties when you create the module/section or change them later. However, because all new documents that you create/link to the new module or section in the Outline Editor inherit its property settings, it is a good idea to set the necessary properties when you first create the new module/section.
A module/section has the following default properties that you can change:
- Name: A descriptive name for the document.
- Location: The folder location in the Library where this document is stored. The default folder that appears depends on where you are when you create the new document, as follows:
If you create a new document from the Library, the default folder is the folder that is selected in the Library when you create the new document.
If you link a new document from the Outline Editor, the default location is the same as the location of the parent document to which you are linking the new document.
- Language: The Language option allows you to choose the default dictionary that is used to check the spelling of a document's content. Dictionaries for English (UK & US), German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese (Brazil), Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Italian are provided.
- Template: The Template option allows you to select another folder of template files. The template sets included with the Developer are the Standard and Microsoft templates. The Microsoft template conforms to the standards as stated in the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications. In addition to these templates, other template sets may be available to you. Alternate template sets are most useful when you are creating content for more than one application. Please contact Technical Support for more information on this option and its implementation.
- Glossary: The glossary document that is currently assigned to the document. The glossary document lists the words you have assigned as glossary terms. After you have set up the glossary terms and their definitions, the Developer can automatically create the links to the terms found in any document text.
- Screen Resolution: The Screen Resolution option allows you to determine the resolution in which the topic content is recorded. If authors attempt to record in a resolution other than the one listed in the Screen Resolution list box, a message box informs them that their resolution does not match the topic setting and indicates in what resolution they should record. While content authors are not prevented from recording in a different resolution if they choose, this option helps create greater consistency in the content.
Please note that the Developer detects the current resolution of your computer and automatically sets the screen resolution property to match when you create new documents. Once screen resolution for a topic is set and you have saved a recording; the screen resolution cannot be changed.
To create a new module or section document in the Library:
- Select the folder where you want to store the document.
- On the File menu, point to New and choose Module or Section.
- Type a name for the new document.
- To change the folder in which the document is stored, type the folder path in the Location field or click Browse, select a different folder, and click OK.
When browsing for a folder, you can use the Make New Folder button to create a new subfolder in the currently selected folder.
- Choose the properties for the new document.
- Click OK.
The module or section opens in a new tab in the Outline Editor.
Important Note about Module and Section Documents: A module or section document will appear with a purple or blue book only when the document has at least one linked child document such as a topic or another module or section. However, a module or section document with no linked child documents will appear with a page icon such as for module and for section. When you create a new module or section, it automatically appears as a page icon until you link at least one additional child document. It then appear with a purple or blue icon.