Under Community Review

Support "Deep Copy" allowing users to duplicate at the map level (which creates a new map, creates new topics, recreates map hierarchy using new topics)

This concept of "Deep Copy" would allow users to build a template of a chapter, create a map to hold the topics that are part of that template and would allow a "one click" deep copy operation on the map level. That one click would not only duplicate the map (leaving it pointing to the same topics as it does today) but it would make copies of all the topics and create a new map to contain the new topics. This would solve some issues with the creation of templates today in the system. Doing this today is somewhat time consuming. 

Tom Dill
  • in reply to Ryan Shubert

    Exact use case for us as well. In addition to writers being able to collaborate and quickly build a fully built publication based on another publication that is similar, but won't be part of the same content. 

  • We have a use case particularly for "data sheet" type documents by our SME's. They want to duplicate/clone previous publications then use collective spaces (draft space) to use that as a baseline/template for next pub.

  • I already posted something related to same idea at the ground-level - Duplicate command should allow cloning of the cross-references

    Duplicate command on an object (map, topic, or image) does not update the internal (from point A to point B in the original topic) and external references (point to the duplicated map, topic or image). Improving the Duplicate command will be very useful as it serves as a starting point for creating a document that will share many of the same topics as the existing publication. 

  • Detail provided during SDL User Group meeting:

    • Create a copy at a map level and have not just the map duplicated but all of the topics that it points to and update the links so that they point to the new items. 
    • Ideally define, on an object-by-object basis, what to do with each object. 
    • Differs from "versioning". Use case: allows creation of document templates for users to build off of. Improves consistency across company. For example, release notes with "stubs" marketing data sheets with images, etc.
    • SDL (Pam Nureault): Professional Services has built a utility that does this, but requires PS engagement.