Branch sub-map(s)

Once you have branched a parent (root) map, you can branch the subordinate maps that it contains.

  • The root map must be open in the DITA Map view.
  • All referring documents must be in a state that allows them to be branched.

Use this procedure when you want to branch a map that's inside another map that you've already branched. This option does not create a new branch; it branches the sub-map as a subordinate document of the root map. A copy of the map file is created in the Authoring cycle and given the tag of the root map.

A branched sub-map has the status Authoring:work (or its equivalent in your workflow).

You do not need to explicitly branch a sub-map if you branch any of the topics it contains, because that action will cause the sub-map to be branched automatically. Otherwise, you must manually select all the sub-maps you want to branch. If the map contains multiple levels of nested sub-maps, you must open each map level to see and select all the sub-maps if you want to branch them.

You can also branch sub-maps, together with other topics within a map using the Branch Documents option.

To branch a map:

In the DITA Map view, right-click the sub-map and select Branch > Branch Map.
The Progress Information dialog tells you that the map is being branched.
A copy of the sub-map is created in the Authoring cycle and assigned the appropriate status. A branched sub-map automatically receives the same tag as the parent map.