Creating a Universal Help MIB

Note: Do not create a Universal help MIB for Android or Kindle fire - export as usual. This article only applies for iPad.

From the 3.2 version of Mag+ (and higher), creating your app requires that you upload a universal Help MIB. This is a single-vertical MIB that appears when users tap the Help button in the navigation; "universal" means it contains elements in both old-iPad resolution (1024x768; 132ppi) and retina resolution (2048x1536; 264ppi) in the same MIB file, so that the appropriate version can be loaded on each device. Use this ONLY for Help issues—do not use this to create your actual issue, or Publish will not accept the MIB. 

How to create your Universal Help MIB:Universal.jpg

  1. Build a single-vertical, A-layer only Help file in InDesign. A template is included in the Mag+ folder installed in your Applications folder, which you can use as a starting point, or you can design your own. Make sure all images used have at least 264ppi resolution.
  2. Choose iPad Retina from the Device pulldown menu; choose 3.5 (or higher) as the MIB version; and select a unique Issue Folder. We recommend creating a folder specifically for your Help MIB. 
  3. Go into the Settings tab in the Mag+ Plug-in. At the bottom you will see a setting for Universal iPad MIB. Check the box to On or Ask on Export (this will present a dialog box when you hit Export).
  4. Export your vertical.
  5. Open the Mag+ Production Tool and point to the Issue Folder you just exported to. Drag your Help vertical from the clipboard into the main window. You can use the same brand settings file you use for your primary publication. Give the Help MIB a unique issue name. 
  6. Hit the Create MIB button in the Production Tool. This will create a MIB in your Issue folder.
  7. Upload that MIB under the Upload Help MIB item in the Apps tab in Publish (when you generate a new app build to include this new Help MIB, the version will be 3.5 (or higher) and will match the Help MIB version).

Notes about Help MIBs:

  • Help MIBs are embedded in the app itself, so they can only be updated with an app update.

Note about Universal MIBs:

  • Because Universal MIBs contain images for both resolution iPads, the file will be bigger than a normal MIB. Therefore we don't recommend using universal MIBs for anything other than Help MIBs.

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