The export process writes all of the selected content to a single compressed archive file with the extension odarc. The import process then takes a single odarc file as input to re-create the contents of the archive in the current Library. Therefore, to exchange documents between libraries, you need not open any archive files. However, if you plan to edit any documents contained in an archive outside the Developer, you need to extract the archive and understand its structure and contents. When you are done making your changes, you must then recompress the archive to make it available for import. See the Extract a Developer Archive and Recompress a Developer Archive topics in the Import/Export Content chapter for more information. The overview of Developer archives provided here can help you determine which files you need to edit to make your desired changes.


Each archive file consists of several components representing the documents it contains and their relative structure. In particular, the archive consists of an archive manifest and a folder for each document, labeled with the Document ID. The manifest lists all of the Library folders and documents included in the archive, and each document folder in the archive contains all necessary information and files required to re-create the document in the Developer upon import. The specific contents of each archive folder therefore depend on the type of document, as summarized later in this section.


Manifest File
The manifest file, manifest.xml, begins with a list of the Library folders making up the absolute Library paths of all documents in the archive. The manifest then lists each document, along with several properties, including absolute Library path, Document ID, title, type, and language. The schema used to render the document type upon import is also included.


The manifest file therefore functions as a table of contents for the archive, defining the documents it contains and their relative folder structure. Upon import, the Developer reads the manifest and verifies that appropriate archive folders exist for all documents listed therein. All of the documents specified in the manifest must be present for the archive to be imported. This manifest information then directs how the archived documents are re-created during import from the contents of the archive folders.


Warning! Do not rename or delete any of the files and folders contained in a Developer archive, as this renders the archive unusable.


Module/Section Archive Folder
The archive folder for each module and section contains the following three files:

Topic Archive Folder
The archive folder for each topic contains the following three files, as well as a varying number of graphics files depending on the number of frames in the topic:

Package Archive Folder
The archive folder for each package contains the following subfolder:

Web Page Archive Folder
The archive folder for each web page contains the following three files and one subfolder:

Note: Images inserted in a web page from a package are represented in index.html by the "file not available" indicator file not available. However, the link to the package graphic is maintained and is restored upon import as long as the web page was exported with its related documents or the same package already exists in the new Library.


Images inserted in a web page from a URL remain linked and visible in index.html.


Glossary Archive Folder
The archive folder for each glossary document contains the following three files:

Role Archive Folder
The archive folder for each role document contains the following file:

Template Archive Folder
The archive folder for each template contains the following two files:

Publishing Style Archive Folder
The contents of the archive folder for a publishing style depend on the specific output format selected. In general, each publishing style includes files with instructions for executing the publishing process (the two most important being project.xml and style.xml), as well as components needed to build the output. Also included are settings for the publishing style in the Developer Publishing Wizard and options pages.


The types of components included in a publishing style vary depending on whether the selected publishing format is a document or Player output. For example, styles for document outputs include document templates, as well as logos, style sheets, and style sheet transformation files. Styles for Player-type outputs require many more components, including style sheets and associated transformation files, graphics and icons, framesets and default frame pages, and JavaScript programs for managing Player-specific functions such as displaying attachments.


See the Customize Publishing Styles topic in the Publish Content chapter for more information.


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