You are here: User Interface Elements - How to Use Each One > Creating a Configured Feedback File

Creating a Configured Feedback File

One of the first tasks that must be performed in Feedback Explorer is to create or open a file that is configured with a target in MadCap Flare. You can initialize this task from Feedback Explorer or from within Flare. It is easiest to create and open the initial Feedback file from within Flare. The reason for this is that you only need to enter your Feedback license once. After entering the license key in Flare's Target Editor, simply click the button labeled Configure with Feedback Explorer Application.

However, some individuals may want to perform this task from Feedback Explorer. For example, some people (such as managers) may not work in MadCap Flare, but want to track user activity in the author's online documentation files.

Configuring a Flare target from Feedback Explorer is a one-time setup process where the Feedback file is created and opened. After this initial setup, you can easily open that existing Feedback file whenever you want to view or take action on user activity. Following are steps for creating the initial configured Feedback file from Feedback Explorer. For information about opening existing Feedback files to view user activity or work in them, see Opening a Configured Feedback File. For more information about creating the configuration file from Flare, see the Flare online Help.

How to create the initial configured Feedback file

Do one of the following:
- In the Standard toolbar, click .
  OR
- Select File>New.
  OR
- Press CTRL+N on your keyboard.
The New Local Target dialog opens.
In the Feedback Server URL field, If you purchased the MadCap Feedback Service (as opposed to the MadCap Feedback Server), enter madcap, which maps to feedbackserver.madcapsoftware.com.

Note: It is highly recommended that you purchase an SSL certificate and install it on your Web server. MadCap Feedback uses encryption for certain processes, which helps to ensure that the data transfer is secure. If you have an SSL certificate installed on your Web server, make sure you begin the path to the server with https://.
In the Feedback Key field, enter the Feedback license that you have been issued.
Click OK.

The Feedback file (with an .fbconf extension) opens in the Feedback Admin. The file has no name until you save it.
Press CTRL+S or click to save your work.
In the Save As dialog, enter a name for the new Feedback file (perhaps naming it after the Flare target or project).

Note: By default, Feedback files are stored in a folder labeled "My Feedback Admin," which is automatically created for you and placed in your My Documents folder. In Windows 7 and Vista, the folder is called "Documents" instead of "My Documents."
Click Save.
In Flare open the target and enter the same Feedback license that you entered for the Feedback file. This step does not apply to you unless you are an individual responsible for working in the Flare project. If you are a manager who simply wants to view the user activity, ignore this step.

WHAT'S NEXT?

After you create or open a configured Feedback file, you can then use Feedback Explorer to perform any of the available tasks (such as viewing topics visited by users, accepting comments, or adding reviewers). See Key Features.