Creating the Variant Criteria

Variant criteria are created using variables in Author-it Administrator. When the variable is created the option to make it a variant criteria must be selected.

Best practice:
Use List of Value type variables when creating your variant criteria. Providing a list of pre-defined criteria (or values) ensures filtering finds all of the variant objects that have been created.

Assigning the Criteria Priority

On rare occasions a conflict can occur when the selected criteria would allow an object to be swapped with two or more variants. The conflict occurs when more than one object meets the settings in the filter. For example, one variant has the country= USA assigned, while another variant has state=California assigned. If both of these criteria and values are selected in the filter Author-it uses the variant with the highest variant priority rating.

Priority ratings range from 1 (the highest priority) to 99 (the lowest priority).

To Create the Variant Criteria:

1. Open your library using Author-it Administrator.
2. Choose Variables > Maintain Variables from the main menu. The Variables window opens.
3. Choose Add. The Variable default settings window opens.
4. Enter a Name for the variable. Choose a name that is unique and will not be used to describe any other criteria.

   Note: The name may only contain the characters 0-9, a-z, A-Z and _ (underscore).

5. Choose List of Values as the variable type. Select the [...] button and create the variant values.
6. Enter a Description to identify the intended use of the variable.
7. Enter the Values for the variable.
8. Select This is a Variant Criteria.
9. Assign the variant Priority.
10. Choose OK to save the variable.