About snapshots
Snapshots (or project versioning) allow you to make a backup of an entire project including its project references.
What is a snapshot?
A snapshot creates a new project that is a copy of all the content in the Project Files repository (and any project reference Project Files repositories) at the time of the snapshot. Any updates to content that is pending in any member's Drafts repository are not captured.
How does a snapshot manage references between files?
Project references (a project that is associated with your project and shares files) are snapshot and moved into a subfolder of the new snapshot, creating two high-level folders in the new project.
References between files, such as cross-references, text insets, DITA references (graphics, topicrefs, etc.) are all resolved properly, even when they were between files in different places, such as project references. The snapshot project will be fully functional immediately after it is created.
Branch or archive?
You can use a snapshot to do either one or both:
• archive: to keep a record of the state of the documentation at release for example or to make an update to a previously published documentation project and re-publish
• branch: create two streams of documentation that are both updated and published independently after being snapshot