RoboHelp 8 Toolbar Options

Hi there

I'm thinking the best approach for you will be to use a tiny (1px x 1px) image for the Search button. Use a transparent color. This will allow the Search button to be present, but not seen and only clickable in the off chance that someone would know to click that exact X/Y coordinate on the main toolbar.

I just tested and under certain conditions with the settings in the Single Source Layout recipe, you are actually able to leave the option for the Search Input Field enabled, but turn off the Toolbar option.

But I think there is an issue with this. In my testing, even though I could arrange the options as you say you want, I still ended up with no ability to Search. And my gut tells me that this is the reason.

When you turn off the Search tab, you are effectively telling RoboHelp you don't want it to build in any Search functionality into your project. I suspect this is why you don't get the Search field.

Now let's examine exactly how Searching works.

With a typical Search, the user clicks the Search tab or button in the main toolbar. This presents the Search panel on the left side. They click into the field at the top of this panel, type their term and click the Go button to perform the search. The results display in the lower part of the panel.

Using the Search field in the main toolbar, the user clicks into the Search field, types their term and clicks the Go button. What follows next is an automated version of using the Search panel. The Search panel opens and saves them from opening it, typing the term and clicking Go.

I think the key point here is that with either approach, the Search panel is needed to present the results. By turning it off in the toolbar settings, there is no search function in the project. Hence, no Search field in the main toolbar.

So this is why I say it's likely the best approach to use the tiny image for the button. That will keep Search enabled and allow it to function, but not show you any button in the Main toolbar.

Perhaps Willam has some fancy schmancy code that can make things work a different way.

Cheers... Rick

It depends on the type of help you are generating. There should be a check box when you generate the help that allows you to choose whether or not there is a Search button.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge