In an Adobe Digital Publishing Suite app, article properties for an individual article contain the important metadata that labels content for users as they browse through folios. Metadata includes information such as Title, Description, and Byline. Article properties can be added via the Folio Builder panel or later on in the production process in the Folio Producer Dashboard.

An alternate method that can streamline metadata input is the use of a single XML file called a sidecar to add and manage properties in all the articles in a folio. To easily gather all of the information for a sidecar file, you can start with an Excel file that lists all articles and all metadata fields so that this information can be created, reviewed, and approved in a single location. Once this data is complete, it can be moved into the sidecar XML file, which should be saved in the root folio folder. In addition, the sidecar file can be used to put articles in a specific order and to import multiple articles into a folio.

 Here is an example of a sidecar.xml generator for Adobe DPS, available online courtesy of Johannes Henseler, Experience Designer Lead at Adobe:

Sidecar-xml

See Adobe’s Structuring Folders for Imported Articles for more detailed information about the use of sidecar files for metadata and importing articles.

Check out TFP’s DPSCreate™ Handbook or DPS Create™ App for more details about building interactive iPad apps.

For other great tips, sign up for the TFP newsletter. Want to learn even more and become an expert? Check out all our best-selling products at www.tech4pub.com/products,  including our DPSPublish™ app at www.tech4pub.com/product/dpspublish-app/.

Note: Information contained in this post is current as of DPS v29. Visit the Technology for Publishing blog at www.tech4pub.com/tag/dps-version-update/ for the latest info on Adobe software releases and functionality.

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Posted by: Monica Murphy

Monica Murphy
Monica Murphy has worked in the publishing industry for over 30 years supporting publishing operations of various sizes. In her role as Technical Product Manager for Technology for Publishing, she shares her publishing application expertise supporting a broad range of publishing clients in InDesign best practices, cross-platform content workflows, and InDesign Template strategies. Her weekly tip and blog posts have a committed following in the InDesign community, and as a long-time participant in the InDesign pre-release community, she regularly analyzes and provides feedback for upcoming features. Monica manages the authoring and publication of Technology for Publishing’s handbooks on InDesign, InCopy, and other associated titles.
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