Flare Online

For years Flare users have had the option of integrating with MadCap Central to enhance the potential of their projects, output, and more. Starting with this version, MadCap Central is now known as Flare Online. It's the same cloud-based application that you've come to know (with some exciting new collaborative authoring benefits also now available); it just has a new name and a somewhat new look. As far as legacy Flare is concerned, you can now think of it as Flare Desktop. See MadCap Flare Online and Flare Desktop.

Why?

The reason for this change is that, over time, Central has grown so much in terms of authoring features that it really has morphed into a cloud-based version of Flare. A Flare author could start a project, work only in the cloud (without ever needing or touching Flare Desktop), and end up with state-of-the art online and print-based outputs.

What is Different?

In the interfaces for both Flare Online and Flare Desktop, you will notice that the text "Central" has been replaced throughout with "Flare Online." There might be a few "corner" locations where Central is still used, or behind-the-scenes occurrences. Mostly, however, the new term replaces the old term.

Along with the text changes, there is a new color scheme and logo for Flare Online.

In Flare Desktop, you will notice these changes in locations, such as:

• Log in option in the upper-right corner of the interface (see Logging In and Out of Flare Online in Flare Desktop)

  

• Flare Online option in the View ribbon (see View Ribbon)

  

• Flare Online window pane (see Flare Online Window Pane)

  

• Reviews wizard and window panes (see Send Files for Review Wizard and File Reviews Window Pane)

  

  

• Target destination (see Publishing Directly to Flare Online)

  

Flare Online vs. Flare Desktop

If Flare Online is becoming more and more a standalone version of Flare Online in the cloud, then the obvious question is "Do I need Flare Desktop at all?" The answer to that is going to be different, depending on your needs. Some people might only need Flare Online. Others might only need Flare Desktop. And still others might need both, involving the movement of content between the two applications.

• Flare Online is a great choice if you want a very simplified process with the most essential documentation elements, as well as the special offerings that are available only in the cloud (e.g., hosting output, collaborative authoring, analytics).

• Flare Desktop is ideal if you must work locally and need advanced authoring features that have been developed over decades (e.g., context-sensitive Help, meta tags, heavy customization of print-based outputs).

To make an informed decision, you should consider the benefits of both applications.

Flare Online Benefits

Flare Desktop Benefits

Collaborative authoring Integrate with ChatGPT (AI Assist) Configure single sign-on (SSO) Host output with custom domains and vanities Publish private output View analytics on output Assign user permissions Use integrated checklists Collaborate with reviewers Create and manage tasks Integrate with Slack Easy cloud-based translation process Customize dashboards and widgets Communicate via message center

Highly specialized authoring features Editor structure bars Dynamic topic preview Full-featured text editor Heavy-duty print-based customization Micro content (enhanced search, chatbots, etc) Context-sensitive help Link viewer Advanced cascading stylesheet editing Integrated responsive web design Learning and development integration Various search engine choices Creation of publishing destinations