# Create a Method Configuration

A method configuration allows you to select and deselect from the content packages and process available in the method library's set of plug-ins. The selections you make help you narrow down the content you are really interested in working with, as well as determine the content of the Web site you ultimately publish to deploy your process. A configuration is given a name and then saved so it can be changed and then re-published at a later date.

Before creating a method configuration, assess your needs and goals for the configuration.
There are two ways to create a method configuration:

- Create a new method configuration from scratch.
- Create a method configuration by copying an existing configuration.

To create a new method configuration from scratch:

1. Make sure you are working in the Authoring Perspective.
2. In the Library view, right click the Configurations folder and then select New > Method Configuration. Your new configuration is created and the configuration editor is opened.
3. In the configuration editor window, type a name for your configuration in the Name field. If you click anywhere in the Library View or Configuration View, you will be able to see your new configuration name in the Configurations folder in the Library view tree.
4. Type a description for your configuration in the Description field, and then select File > Save All to save your new method configuration.
5. At the bottom of the editor window, click the Plug-in and Package Selection tab.
6. The method configuration selection section displays a list of all method plug-ins their content packages and processes. Use the check boxes to add or remove plug-ins, packages, and processes to or from your configuration. Expand each plug-in to select and deselect individual packages and processes.

   As you make your selections, warning signs may appear against some of the plug-in and package names, and the Configuration Warning Log view may be displayed. These warnings are intended to help ensure that you create a configuration that "makes sense".

   If you reference an element in a package that is from another package, you can only see the full details for that element in a published Web site if the package containing the element is in the configuration. If the package containing the element is not in the configuration, the "offending" package is marked with a warning sign. You may choose not to include the full details of a referenced element. Click the Add Missing References button to automatically and recursively add packages containing any elements that are referenced in already selected packages. Since this is recursive, a large number of packages may be added, perhaps making your configuration larger than you want it to be.

   If you have elements in a package that contribute to, extend, or replace elements in another package, it is an error if the base package is not included in the configuration. Errors are marked with a red cross. If you drill down into a plug-in or package marked with a cross you will discover the "offending" package and then you can find the packages you need to include to resolve the error. Alternatively you can click the Make closure by fixing errors button to automatically fix the errors by adding the missing base packages.

   The Configuration Warning Log lists and explains all errors and warnings in the configuration.

7. Select File > Save All
8. Define the views for the method configuration. A view is a navigation tree browser in a published configuration. Every published configuration can have several views that are displayed as stacked tree browser tabs. The structure of the view is defined as a Custom Category.
   1. In the Configuration Editor, click the Views tab.
   2. Click the Add View button. The Select Categories dialog appears.
   3. If needed, click the (+) sign to expand the Custom Categories folder and then select the category you want to use as your view. Click the (+) sign to expand your chosen category and view it's contents. Press and hold the CTRL key to select multiple views.
   4. Click OK. The dialog window disappears and the views you selected are added to the Configuration.
9. Select the view you want to display as your configuration's start-up view and then click the Make Default button. The start-up view is the first view shown when a published configuration is displayed for the first time.
10. Click File > Save all to save your configuration.

To create a method configuration by copying an existing configuration:

1. Make sure you are working in the Authoring Perspective.

2. In the Library View, expand the Configurations folder.

3. Right click the method configuration you want to copy and then click Copy.

4. Right click the Configurations folder and then click Paste. Type a name for the new configuration in the pop-up window. The copied method configuration is pasted into the Configurations folder.

5. Double click the newly pasted method configuration to open its configuration editor.

6. Follow steps 3 through 10 in To Create a New Method Configuration from Scratch above to continue.

Parent topic: Method Configuration
Related concepts
Method Configuration
Method Plug-in
Method Content Package
Related tasks
Create a Method Plug-in