Using FAQ Proxies in Topics

Now let's use a third kind of micro content proxy, called the "FAQ proxy."

The FAQ proxy lets you generate a list of phrases and responses for the selected micro content file(s) in most outputs. Results are static, based on specific criteria selected when the target is built, not on the search engine output. This type of proxy is ideal for including traditional FAQs, but it can be used for other purposes as well.

In this lesson, we'll take a look at how versatile this type of proxy can be.

How to Include a Traditional FAQ Section in a Topic

  1. In the Content Explorer, expand Resources > MicroContent and double-click FAQs.flmco.

    Notice that this micro content file contains phrases that are full questions with the answers in the associated responses. We want to use the phrases from this micro content file, adding them all to an FAQ section.

  2. In the Content Explorer, double-click Home.htm. Since we only want the micro content to be shown in this one topic, we can insert it directly here, instead of in a template page.

  3. Scroll down and create an empty paragraph after the first paragraph.

  4. In the Insert ribbon, select Proxy > FAQ Proxy.

  5. In the What micro content to include field, select Specific micro content files. Then, in the field under that, select Resources/MicroContent/FAQs.flmco.

  6. An added benefit of the FAQ proxy—because it is compiled at build time, as opposed to run time in the output like the other proxies—is that you can tell Flare Desktop to alphabetize the micro content phrases. Let's do that. Select Sort phrases in alphabetical order.

    Note We aren't covering the final field ("Generate FAQ structured data") in this tutorial, which has to do with adding markup to the topic that makes it possible for the micro content to be included as an FAQ rich result on a Google search page. For more information about that, see FAQ Proxy.

  7. Click OK.

  8. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

  9. Build the First-HTML5-Target file, and when it is finished, open the output.

  10. On the Home page, scroll down and notice the FAQ drop-downs (which is the default format for the FAQ proxy). You can click any of the drop-downs to see the answer.

How to Display Targeted Micro Content From Different Files

One of the really nice characteristics of the micro content proxies is that they let you select multiple micro content files, pulling only selected content from each one. This is done by using meta tag values. We'll do this now, even though our content in this case isn't really a group of questions and answers, but simple links to PDF and video resources.

  1. In the Project Organizer, expand the Advanced folder and double-click Resources.

  2. Expand both the PDFs and Videos sections. Notice that we've added a few simple meta tag values to each. The idea is that we will be associating these values to micro content containing basic links to PDFs and videos.

  3. In the Content Explorer, expand Resources > MicroContent and double-click PDF-Links.flmco.

  4. Right-click First PDF Link and select Properties.

  5. On the Meta Tags tab, expand Resources Meta Tag Set. Then, expand PDFs and select PDF1.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Repeat these last few steps for the other two phrases, associating them with the PDF2 and PDF3 meta tag values accordingly.

  8. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

  9. In the Content Explorer, double-click Video-Links.flmco.

  10. Just as you did for the PDF links, open the properties for the three phrases in this micro content file, and in the Resources Meta Tag Set section, associate them with the Video1, Video2, and Video3 meta tag values accordingly.

  11. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

  12. Now let's associate some of these meta tag values with some topics. In the Content Explorer, expand the B-Breeds folder.

  13. Right-click Mastiffs.htm and select Properties.

  14. On the Meta Tags tab, expand Resources Meta Tag Set.

  15. Expand the PDFs section and select PDF 1 and PDF2. Then, expand the Videos section and select Video1.

  16. Click OK.

  17. In the Content Explorer, right-click Old English Sheepdogs and select Properties.

  18. Follow the same few steps above to associate this topic with meta tag values. But this time select only PDF2 and Video3.

  19. Do the same for the topic Pugs.htm, but this time select PDF3, Video1, Video2, and Video3.

  20. Go back to the Other-Topics template page.

  21. Click the Promotion Proxy bar so that a horizontal cursor flashes between the two proxies.

  22. In the Insert ribbon, select Proxy > FAQ Proxy.

  23. In the What micro content to include field, select Specific micro content files. Then in the fields under that, select Resources/MicroContent/PDF-Links.flmco and Resources/MicroContent/Video-Links.flmco.

  24. In the How micro content is included field, select Filtering by topic meta tag value.

  25. In the first Micro content drop-down field under that, select PDFs, which is the name of one of the meta tags that we're using.

    Note Often, you don't need to make a selection in the Topic drop-down field, because most of the time it's the same meta tag. That's why you see the gray text that is identical to your selection in the first drop-down. However, it's possible that you could be using a different meta tag for the micro content phrase than you are using for the topic, and in that case you would make a selection from the Topic drop-down.

  26. In the second Micro content drop-down field, select Videos, the other meta tag that we're using. Again, we'll leave the Topic field as it is.

  27. Click OK.

  28. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

  29. Build the First-HTML5-Target file, and when it is finished, open the output.

  30. Open the Mastiffs topic in the output. Notice the three links. Since we used an FAQ proxy, it displays them in drop-downs, which is the default setting for that proxy.

  31. Open the Old English Sheepdogs topic and notice the links associated with it.

  32. And finally, open the Pugs topic to see its micro content links.

  33. Maybe you noticed that Flare Desktop is displaying the content from the PDF-Links micro content file first, and the content from the Video-Links file after that. But we can change it so that it's all alphabetical, regardless of which micro content file it came from. Go back to the Other-Topics template page.

  34. Right-click the FAQ Proxy bar and select Edit FAQ Proxy.

  35. Select Sort phrases in alphabetical order and click OK.

  36. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

  37. Build the First-HTML5-Target file, and when it is finished, open the output.

  38. Look at those three topics in the output again, and notice how the micro content has been rearranged.