Reusing Content with Library Objects in Lectora and Lectora Online
Here on the product and support teams for Lectora® Desktop and Lectora Online®, we often hear questions like this:
"I have a really great <course feature> that I created, and I need to use it in another project. Is there any way I can do that without recreating it?"
The answer of course is “Yes.”
In this blog we’ll answer:
How do I create, save, insert, and share library objects in Lectora?
How do I create, save, insert, and share library objects in Lectora Online?
How do I work with a Lectora or Lectora Online library object across platforms?
(Select each question to quickly be moved to that section).
How do I work with Library Objects in Lectora Desktop
1. Creating and Saving
To create a library object in Lectora, begin by identifying and selecting the content in the Project Explorer. Essentially, anything below the project's title name level can be included within your library object (we recommend exporting to a PKG if you plan on sharing a whole project built in Lectora Desktop or Lectora Online). You can select individual objects like images or audio or groups of objects including action groups. Also, from a structural level you can select a single Chapter, Section, Sub-Section, and page, or a combination of them.
To select the object, simply choose it from the Project Explorer. If multiple objects need to be selected, you can use the Control key in combination with mouse clicks. Or use Shift to do a list grab.
Once you have selected the desired content, right-click on the content and select Save as Library Object. Be sure to name your library object so it’s easy to locate. We suggest naming it based on the functionality you wish to reuse. (It will default to the name of the top-most object in the Project Explorer, but you can overtype that.) Remember that there’s no need to save the layout of a page as a Library Object if you like it, since a more effective process is available.
And here’s the really great news: a library object will contain your selections, as well as any variables associated with the objects and actions in your selections.
2. Inserting into a Project
Library objects are inserted into your Project Explorer immediately following the object currently in focus. Make sure you are in the proper location in your project ( if you mistakenly add library object content in an incorrect location, you can select it and drag it to another location in the Project Explorer) before inserting a library object.
All of your library objects are saved to, and available from, the My Library tab on the Media Library Organizer.
To reuse the content you’ve saved as a library object, double-click to open the Library Objects folder. Click on the desired library object and drag it into your work area. We recommend dropping it (releasing the mouse) when your object is in the dark gray area surrounding your Work area.
3. Sharing
When you right-click on a library object (or any object in the Media Library), you’ll see the option to Show in Windows Explorer. Selecting this opens your Windows file structure to where Lectora stores the object. From here you can copy/paste your library object file into a shared network repository, or even attach it to an email.
4. Saving
You can also save library objects shared with you into your Library Objects folder. Just click Add File, or right-click and choose Add Library Object.
How do I work with Library Objects in Lectora Online
1. Creating and Saving
To create a library object in Lectora, begin by identifying and selecting the content in the Project Explorer. Essentially, anything below the Project's title name level can be included within your library object (we recommend exporting to a PKG if you plan on sharing a whole project built in Lectora Desktop or Lectora Online). You can select individual objects like images or audio. As well as groups of objects including action groups. Also, from a structural level you can select a single Chapter, Section, Sub-Section, and page, or a combination of them.
To select the object, simply choose it from the Project Explorer. If multiple objects need to be selected, you can use the Control key in combination with mouse clicks. Or use Shift to do a list grab.
Once you have selected the desired content, you can do either of two things:
- Right-click on the content and select Save as Library Object, or
- On the Tools ribbon, click the Library Objects drop-down list and select Save as Library Object.
Be sure to name your library object so it’s easy to locate. We suggest naming it based on the functionality you wish to reuse. (It will default to the name of the top-most object in the Project Explorer.) Remember that there’s no need to save the layout of a page as a Library Object if you like it since a more effective process is available.
Next, choose where you want to save the library object. You can save it as a Shared Library Object within Lectora Online or download the file to your computer.
1a. Save it as a Shared Library Object
To save your library object online, choose the folder to which you want to save it. By default it will save in the general Shared Library Objects folder. However, you can also right-click and create sub-folders to help organize shared content, for example, by author name or by type of content. Click Save.
1b. Download it to your Computer
This is easy; simply click the Download button. The file will be saved to your computer’s Downloads folder.
And here’s the really great news: a library object will contain your selections, as well as any variables associated with the objects and actions in your selections. Variables are restricted to Reserved.
2. Inserting into a Project
Library objects are inserted into your Project Explorer immediately following the object currently in focus. Make sure you are in the proper location in your project ( if you mistakenly add library object content in an incorrect location, you can select it and drag it to another location in the Project Explorer) before inserting a library object.
All of your library objects are saved to, and available from, the My Library tab on the Media Library Organizer.
To reuse the content you’ve saved as a library object, double-click to open the Library Objects folder. Click on the desired library object and drag it into your work area. We recommend dropping it (releasing the mouse key) when your object is in the dark gray area surrounding your Work area.
You can access your library objects by selecting the Library Objects tab on the right side of the interface, or click the Library Objects drop-down list on the Tools ribbon and select Insert a Library Object.
3. Sharing
If you saved your library object to Lectora Online’s Shared Library Objects repository, it is already available to you and anyone within your Lectora Online organization! Simply let them know it exists. If you downloaded the library object file, you can find it in your computer’s Downloads folder. From there you can copy/paste your library object file into a shared network repository, or attach it to an email.
4. Saving
Using the Import Library Objects dialog, locate and select the desired object from the Shared list and click Import from File. Locate the existing Library Object and then select Import.
We also get asked the question:
I am using Lectora Online, but my colleague has Lectora desktop. Can I share my library object with her?
This one’s a bit more complicated. Let’s take a closer look.
How do I work with Lectora Desktop and Lectora Online Library Objects together?
While both Lectora Desktop and Lectora Online have library objects, their file formats are different. Lectora Desktop uses .AWO while Lectora Online uses .WWO. Lectora library objects can only be inserted into Lectora Desktop projects, and Lectora Online library objects can only be used in Lectora Online projects. However, if you need to use a library object from one product in the other, there is a way you can get it there. Here’s what you—and your colleague—will need to do:
You:
- Create a new blank project in the product that contains the library object you want to share.
- Insert the library object. This will now be the only content in your new project. (Save the new project.)
- Using the File tab, select Export and export the project to a Lectora Online package file (.pkg). A package file can be read by both Lectora Desktop and Lectora Online.
Your colleague:
- Create a new blank project in the other product.
- Using the File tab, select Import and import the Lectora Online package file you created. This will now be the only content in the new project. (Save the new project.)
- Select and save these objects as a library object and reuse it as needed.
This article last reviewed August 2024. The software may have changed since the last review. Please visit our Release Notes to learn more about version updates.