consolidate version switcher guideance

story645 · web-flow · commit 53b29f47707a · 2025-05-13T17:15:31.000-04:00
Merged matplotlib#30048 then saw that guidance for the version switcher was already in the release guide so consolidating it here.
diff --git a/doc/devel/release_guide.rst b/doc/devel/release_guide.rst
@@ -233,16 +233,22 @@ Update :file:`doc/users/release_notes.rst`:
      ../api/prev_api_changes/api_changes_X.Y.Z.rst
      prev_whats_new/github_stats_X.Y.Z.rst
 
+.. _update-version-switcher:
+
 Update version switcher
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+The version switcher is populated from https://matplotlib.org/devdocs/_static/switcher.json.
 
-Update ``doc/_static/switcher.json``:
+Since it's always taken from devdocs, update the file :file:`doc/_static/switcher.json`
+on the main branch through a regular PR:
 
 - If a micro release, :samp:`{X}.{Y}.{Z}`, no changes are needed.
 - If a meso release, :samp:`{X}.{Y}.0`, change the name of :samp:`name: {X}.{Y+1} (dev)`
   and :samp:`name: {X}.{Y} (stable)` as well as adding a new version for the previous
   stable (:samp:`name: {X}.{Y-1}`).
 
+Once that PR is merged, the devdocs site will be updated automatically.
+
 Verify that docs build
 ----------------------
 
@@ -463,15 +469,9 @@ Congratulations you have now done the third scariest part!
 If you have access, clear the CloudFlare caches.
 
 It typically takes about 5-10 minutes for the website to process the push and update the
-live web page (remember to clear your browser cache).
+live web page (remember to clear your browser cache). 
 
-Update the version switcher
----------------------------
-The version switcher is populated from https://matplotlib.org/devdocs/_static/switcher.json.
-
-Since it's always taken from devdocs, update the file :file:`doc/_static/switcher.json`
-on the main branch through a regular PR. Once that PR is merged, the devdocs site
-will be updated automatically.
+Remember to :ref:`update the version switcher <update-version-switcher`! 
 
 .. _release_merge_up:
 
