template/book/exercises/005a.md

Exercise 6: Reuse content from another book

So far, you've been working inside your own book. But what if someone else has already written a page you’d like to reuse? Instead of copying it, you can include it directly into your own book using the TeachBooks Recombiner.

::::::{topic} Exercise objective Can you include a page from someone else’s book into your own using the Recombiner? ::::::

1. Open the TeachBooks Recombiner.

2. Select the book and chapter(s) you want to reuse:

   • Click on the book (e.g., TeachBooks Manual).
   • Browse the chapters and click the + button to select the ones you want (e.g., Collaboration in GitHub).

3. Click Show how do it yourself instructions

4. Follow the instructions provided:

   • Copy the external link (it will look something like this):

     - external: https://github.com/TeachBooks/manual/blob/v1.1.1/book/workflows/collaboration.md
     

   • Paste it into the parts: or chapters: section of your _toc.yml file in your book repository.

   • Save the changes, commit, and push them.

::::::{admonition} Example: _toc.yml snippet

format: jb-book
root: intro

chapters:
  - file: 001
  - external: https://github.com/TeachBooks/manual/blob/v1.1.1/book/workflows/collaboration.md
  - file: 003

::::::

5. When you are ready, commit your changes to the repository by clicking on the green Commit changes button.

6. Add a commit message.

7. To see your changes, go to {octicon}play Actions - The most recent workflow run overview.md / the commit message of the commit you just made - Wait for it to finish - In the summary, click on the link of your book shown in the table Branches deployed and under Primary book at root (getting bored of waiting? There'll be exercising on doing this locally which prevents you from waiting).

8. Do you see your change? If you don't see it click CTRL+F5/Control+F5to refresh the page.

::::::{admonition} Check your understanding :class: note

Before moving on, make sure you understand:

• What is the benefit of linking to an external page instead of copying it?
• How does using the Recombiner simplify adding external content? ::::::