### 44.5 Gathering additional files before converting

For safety, or for sharing with other writers, you might keep copies of ancillary files in a location other than the project directory. You can have DITA2Go copy those files into the project directory before beginning a conversion.

To copy files into the project directory:

    [Automation]
    ; CopyBeforeFrom = path to directory containing files to add to the
    ; project directory before processing. For example:
    CopyBeforeFrom = ..\..\keepers
    ; CopyBeforeFiles = list of files to copy from CopyBeforeFrom
    ; to the project directory, separated by spaces, wildcards and
    ; paths (relative and absolute) allowed, no spaces within an
    ; item, default is no files
    CopyBeforeFiles = *.ini

You can specify either an absolute path or a path relative to the project directory for CopyBeforeFrom. If the path contains spaces, you must enclose it in quotes.

CopyBeforeFiles lists the files to copy from the CopyBeforeFrom directory to your project directory. Files are copied after any pre-conversion actions that delete files from the project directory; see §44.4 Clearing out old files before converting.

The file specifications you assign to CopyBeforeFiles must be separated by spaces, but no spaces are allowed within a file specification. You can use wildcards in file specifications. File specifications can include absolute or relative paths to indicate where files should be copied from; the default is from the CopyBeforeFrom directory, and relative paths are relative to the CopyBeforeFrom directory. The destination is always the project directory

See also:

§44.6.6 Listing extracurricular files to put in the wrap directory

Previous Topic: 44.4.3 Understanding when not to delete .ref and .htm files

Next Topic: 44.6 Assembling files for distribution

Parent Topic: 44. Producing deliverable results

Sibling Topics:

44.1 Understanding DITA2Go pre- and post-processing

44.2 Activating and logging production of deliverables

44.3 Understanding path values for deliverables

44.4 Clearing out old files before converting

44.6 Assembling files for distribution

44.7 Placing graphics files for distribution

44.8 Placing CSS or XSL files for assembly

44.9 Gathering files for an HTML project: an example

44.10 Gathering and processing Help-system files

44.11 Archiving deliverables

44.12 Placing deliverables in a shipping directory

44.13 Postprocessing separately from converting