# Publishing process

An item's status (also called its review state) determines who can see it. Another way to control the visibility of an item is with its Publishing Date. An item is not publicly searchable before its publishing date. This will prevent the item from showing up in portlets and folder listings, although the item will still be available if accessed directly via its URL.

Affected content

Include contained items
If checked, this will attempt to modify the status of all content in any selected folders and their subfolders.
Publishing Date
The date when the item will be published. If no date is selected the item will be published immediately.
Validation error output
calendar pop-up
Expiration Date
The date when the item expires. This will automatically make the item invisible for others at the given date. If no date is chosen, it will never expire.
Validation error output
calendar pop-up
Comments
Will be added to the publishing history. If multiple items are selected, this comment will be attached to all of them.
Change State
Select the new state for the selected items.
Error
For usability we will want to signify what state we are currently in. DCWorkflow only returns what transitions are available. But we want to visually represent what *state* we are currently in along with possible transitions. No change
Transition Name
##### HIDDEN VARIABLES FOR THE FORM_TOOL -- CUT AND PASTE THESE INTO YOUR FORM ####