A proxy acts as a placeholder for auto-generated content or content that you have created elsewhere. When you build output, the content takes the place of that proxy. Proxies are used for online output, especially HTML5 output. However, some proxies can also be used for print-based outputs, especially to create elements such as glossaries. Proxies can be added to template pages (most common), as well as to regular topics. The difference is that a proxy added to a topic will display that information in the output only once (wherever the topic occurs), but if a proxy is added to a template page, the content will show up everywhere that the template page has been applied.
Types of ProxiesNote Options in the Advanced tab of print-based targets let you automatically add glossary, index, and TOC proxies to output. This means you do not need to create unique topics and insert proxies into them manually. The auto-generate method is much quicker and easier than the manual method. The manual method is more flexible but requires you to perform a number of extra steps, such as creating topics, inserting proxies, and adding files to the outline TOC. So if you simply want to quickly create print output with generated TOCs, glossaries, or indexes, the auto-generate option might be best for you. But if you want more control over the placement and look of the generated TOCs, glossaries, and indexes, you should use the manual method.
Note When you generate content from a proxy (e.g., list-of, mini-TOC proxies), keep in mind that some content may not show up in the output if you have used an option in the target to include only certain content based on links.