Branch components

If you want to make a copy of a component and maintain a relationship between the original component and the new copy, you can use the Save as a branch option. This is helpful if there are different versions of a component that you want to track and update separately but still want to have a common starting point for the information.

A content owner or administrator can set permissions to deny access to components or folders. If your permissions to content has been blocked and you are not an administrator, you cannot use the Save as branch option in a project's Content pane.

For example, you want to create a prototype of a book with a new style that you want to distribute in a test market.

• You can take the original components of the standard-style book and create a branch.
• Then you can edit the content in the branch to create the prototype.
• While creating the prototype you may need to refer back to the standard style.
• You'll be able to see where the original content came from because Inspire tracks the branched relationship.

When you select the Save as a branch... option, you can choose to either save all references or select only the ones you want to include in the new branch.

• To keep all the same references in the branch copy that exist in the source, click Create.
• To see the references or select a customized list of references in the List or Hierarchy view, select Show referenced components.

  When you select Show referenced components, a request is sent to Inspire to display the list.

  • If this is the first time you are selecting Show referenced components for this component, then you are prompted to make a selection:
    • Wait for the list to be built
    • Be notified when the list has been built

      

  • If you choose to wait, the Save as branch screen stays open while the references are being collected. Look for a notification in the top right corner of your Inspire screen telling you that the list of references for the component has been built. Then you can continue to select the references you want to keep.
  • If you choose not to wait, the Save as branch screen closes. Look for a notification in the top right corner of your Inspire screen telling you that the list of references for the component has been built. Then you can either:
    • Open the notification in the Notifications module to go to the component that you were working with.
    • Select the component again and select Save as branch...

      

  • After the list of references has been built for a component, it is saved in Inspire.
  • When you choose Save as branch and select Show referenced components for a component that has a saved list of references, the list appears right away.
  • You won't see the prompt again unless you select a component that doesn't have a saved list or if you update the component after the list is saved.

By default, the Show referenced components option is not selected.

You may not see all referenced components on the Save as a branch screen.

• Components that are referenced in the source component are only listed if:
  • You select the Show referenced components option
  • In the Branch referenced components dropdown menu you select anything other than No referenced components
  • It doesn't have a tag applied to it called ExcludeFromBranch. For more details, read Prevent branching.

Whenever you save a component by branching, Inspire ensures content that is read from Right-to-Left displays correctly in Oxygen.

Still have questions? Read Branching FAQs.