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A
Anonymous
October 19, 2009
Answered

Alphabetize TOC in RoboHelp 8

  • October 19, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 4429 views

Hello,

In RoboHelp X5, when you auto-create a TOC, the books and pages are displayed in alphabetical order by default. Does anyone know how to alphabetize the TOC in RoboHelp 8? I have a fairly large TOC and I'd like it to be alphabetized each time I auto-create it before a publish. Is this possible?

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peter Grainge

    Thanks for the suggestion, Leon. Unfortunately, it doesn't look it matters if the Project Manager folders are open or not--it still doesn't sort the TOC in the same way that the Project Manager is sorted.


    Solved with some assistance from Adobe.

    The icon that shows AZ is not an AZ - ZA toggle. Its two states are Sort by Name (A-Z only) and Custom Sort.

    Auto-create TOC is always based on the Custom Sort order.

    So if you want an A-Z toc, you need to custom sort the folders into that order. If you do that, then toggling the icon will have no effect as your custom sort will be alphabetical and, obviously, the sort by name is alphabetical.

    Obvious? No. I have suggested the bubble text is clearer and that the icon should change according to the state. Please submit a feature request yourself as the more people who report a bug or request a feature, the more likely it is to be actioned. Please follow this link.

    http://www.Adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform&product=38

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    2 replies

    A
    Anonymous
    October 19, 2009

    Out of interest, you want to auto-create an alphabetical TOC "before a publish", but are you publishing the help with that alphabetical TOC?

    I always think that part of my role as an author is to produce the user assistance in a logical structure to help the users understand the applications that I document. I create a TOC based on what the software does and group relevant topics to show how it hangs together. I then use the Topic List to check that all (relevant) topics are in the TOC and then add any topics I have missed before I publish.

    Using an index often helps when I want an alphabetical list, although I realise this requires more work on indexing and is often less than perfect.

    I am always interested to hear other perspectives.

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2009

    The automated TOC should follow the folder order so that if that has been customised, as you can in RH8, then your TOC will follow that order.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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    A
    Anonymous
    October 19, 2009

    I inserted a screen shot below. I sorted the project manager files alphabetically (i.e., clicking the AZ button). But then when I go to auto-create the TOC, it produces the books/pages in a different order--one that does not match the project manager. I think I may be missing something. Is there another pod in which you order the files that translates to the order created in the TOC? Is that what you meant by folder order, Peter?

    http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5798/projectcp.png

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2009

    I'm beginning to suspect a bug.

    I created some folders and alternate clicks are not reversing all the folders, just some!

    Sorry but what I described is the theory of how it should work. Whatever folders you have in Project Manager should translate to books in an auto TOC.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.
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