Import Word Document - Do Not Want Topics to Import Alphabetically

I don't think this can be done in RH2020 right now, and doesn't address your initial requirement, but as a thought experiment for a new feature that might help with organisation a little bit, what about this.

Currently you can select a style (h1, h2 etc) to split the word document in to topics. What if you could also specify a style to create a sub-folder from?  That would at least divide the topics up a bit rather than having a giant list. I think it would depend a bit on how your word document was set up though. 

So say you had the following setup in Word:

Getting Started (h1)

--Screen layout overview (h2)

----Menu bar (h3)

----Icons (h3)

----Left side panel (h3)

----Content panel (h3)

--Reports (h2)

----Used topics (h3)

----Unused topics (h3)

----Broken links (h3)

Admin (h1)

--Setting preferences (h2)

----Language (h3)

----Theme (h3)

Then there would be a setting where you would select h1 to create folders, then h2 to split into topics (for example). In the above example you'd end up with two folders "Getting Started" and "Admin", with 2 topics in the Getting started and 1 topic in Admin.

The problem would be if you had text content between the H1 and the H2. You could automatically create a topic for the h1 as well. But then if you didn't have content between the H1 and H2 you'd end up with a blank topic. 

Still, it might be worth requesting , given Peter's previous discussion with Adobe about a non-alpha contents panel .

I spoke with Adobe on this issue when the new UI was introduced. Because RoboHelp is reading what is in Explorer, this behaviour cannot be changed.

By all means request a feature request but don't hold your breath.

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My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

If you'd like to suggest a change to this behaviour, use the Tracker (https://tracker.adobe.com/) to get it on Adobe's radar. And posting your suggestion link here may also generate more votes for it.

That's what I said. 🙂

________________________________________________________
My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

You haven't said which version of RoboHelp you are using. Please always start a thread with this information.

• Please go to Help > About and include the full version number.
• If you are using 2019 also state whether it is 2019 Classic or 2019 New UI.

I am assuming it is the new UI where all topics are alphabetical whether or not you create them in RoboHelp or you import them. Essentially you are viewing them as they are in Explorer.

The only thing I can suggest is to create a TOC and arrange them there in the order you want. It doesn't have to be a TOC your users will see, it can be one just for your use.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.