Editing web page source in an external application

You can edit web page source in an external application to make quick modifications or to do testing, such as link checking or accessibility testing. Contribute opens the source in an external editing application.

Note: If your Contribute administrator has not enabled source editing, you will not be able to edit the source in an external application. For information, talk to your Contribute administrator or see Setting page-editing and paragraph settings.

Caution: Editing web page source in an external application is very different than the editing experience in Contribute. If you are unsure about editing the source directly, talk to your Contribute administrator.

To edit a web page's source in an external application:

1. In the Contribute browser or editor, view the page you want to edit the source for.
2. Select File > Actions > Edit Page Source in External Application.

   Contribute displays the External Application Editing page and starts an external editing application.

   Note: To change your default editor associated with Web Page Source, see Setting file editor preferences.

3. In the external application, make changes as necessary, and then save your changes and close the file or application.

   Warning: Be careful when you edit web page source--you can easily alter style and formatting and get unexpected results. If you are unsure about editing the source directly, talk to your Contribute administrator.

4. In Contribute, do one of the following:
   • Click the Edit in Contribute link on the External Application Editing page to reload the draft in Contribute.

   This option enables you to see your changes and resume editing.

   Note: If Contribute warns you that you must save and close the file in the external application, click OK.

   • Click the Launch link on the External Application Editing page to reopen the content in the external editor.

   This option enables you to make additional changes, and provides a convenient way to switch back and forth between Contribute and the external editing application.

   • Click the Publish button in the toolbar to publish your changes to the website.
   • Click the Send for Review button to send the draft to another user to review your changes.
   • Click Cancel if you are unhappy with the results of editing in an external application.

   This options discards all changes you've made in Contribute or in the external application since you started editing this draft.

Related topics

• Editing web page content in an external application

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