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Anonymous
September 10, 2009
Question

How to retain formatting from Word to RoboHelp?

  • September 10, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 2111 views

I'm using Robohelp for Word 8.0.  Thus far, I've done all my work in Word.  The problem I'm having is getting styles to appear in the online help the same way they do in Word. My output file is web help.

  1. When I compile, RoboHelp correctly formats the font type and size for each of the styles I've created.  Also, it usually gets bold text right.  What it won't handle at all is color.  I've tried using Web-friendly RGB values; nada. It's always black.
  2. The other formatting issue I'm having is lists -- bulleted lists and numbered lists.  RoboHelp inserts a lot of space between the bullets/numbers and the beginning of the text.  That space is not in the Word document.
  3. Finally, if I have links in a bulleted list, RoboHelp formats the entire bulleted item -- including the space between the bullets and the text -- with an underline. 

I'm really hoping I won't have to take this into the RoboHelp HTML application.  I'm not very HTML-savvy.  The reason we bought this product was so that we could author in Word, and work from a single source all the time.  However, I'll do what I have to do -- once I know what that is.

Thanks.

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2 replies

P
princess_betty
Inspiring
November 27, 2009

I struggled with the color issue myself for several months and finally had time to figure it out. Word 2007 deals with table styles differently than past versions. In previous versions of word, you could modify table normal style. Now the table normal style assumes all content in the table is using "normal" style. Tables will accept paragraph and character styles only. If you want to customize a table style, modify the table grid style. Fixing the table issue will resolve any use of color you have in your doc even though this may not like it is related. I had the most trouble with orange and shades of purple. RGB only half worked too.

So to fix, using the Developer ribbon, select to modify the Document Template. From the normal.dotm style, copy the Table Normal style into your RH document. Recompile. If you still have the same issue, you will need to dig further. RH processes the topics in your doc in the order that they appear in the doc -- not the toc, so start looking at the beginning of the doc for the first table. Check to see if this table appears correctly in your compiled help file. If it appears correctly, move to the next table and compare it to the compiled help. I found that the table with issues is the one where I had colored borders in my doc table, but in the compiled help they appears as a medium gray shade. Once you ID the table, select the table and on the Table ribbon, right-click on the Table Normal and select apply clearing format or just select Clear.   Recompile. If your colors appear you fixed it. If you still have problems with color appearing, try the next table in the RH doc. To put formatting into your table, highlight your text and bold it -- do not use a style.

For issue 2, when you compile, try changing the options in the generate project. There is an option to use formatted html bullets versus the bullets in the doc. Switch this to use the ones from your doc.

For 3, when you are making the link, you are including the paragraph mark at the end of the bullet which makes the bullet itself and the space inbetween part of the link. In Word, on the format ribbon, click the paragraph mark to show all formatting marks. You should see a paragraph mark after every ending bullet line. Remove the link, then select only the text without the paragraph mark and make your link.

I'm not sure if you are new to RH for Word or not, but here are some tips I use to make using RH easier:

  • I always work with the show paragraph mark on. It helps me ID what Word is doing easier. I changed the Word Options, Display so it shows all formatting makrs. It also lets you see what is in your links as they are hidden text.
  • I use the Word Options, Customize to modify my word QAT. I've included many of the table commands such as add row/column, delete row/column, table properties, select table, etc. since the ribbon only shows the table ribbon when you have an existing table your cursor is resting on. I've also added the Styles (classic styles) to the QAT which provides a drop-down list of my styles. The current shortcut of styles on the format ribbon doesn't show you all available styles. Note, Word shows you Popular Commands by default so choose All Commands. You may have to do some trial and error to find the styles that you want to use.
  • I've also modified the styles to show me the current styles in my doc. This allows me to get rid of styles that may creep into my RH doc that may cause me problems. The list is also shorter for me to choose from. (Choose styles, options, them remove all checkmarks.)

Hope this helps.

bb

A
Anonymous
November 30, 2009

Thanks, Princess -- I appreciate the very thorough response.

Due to deadline constraints, I ended up junking RH for Word and just moved the whole project over to RH for HTML. I'll save your helpful post, however, in case I ever have to use RH for Word again. (I hope I never do. What a mess.)

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2009

1] I just applied colour to text and to background in both RH7 and 8 for Word and they come through just fine. Have you tried different browsers or viewing from another machine?

2] There have been several posts about bullets where the first line does not align properly. If you don't have that problem and the gap is acceptable, I would be wary of making changes. If you do, do so in a copy of the project. I can only suggest you experiment with different settings in Word that get the required end result. Sorry my knowledge of RH for Word is too rusty.

3] I don't know what is causing that but it is not normal.

Perhaps one of the RH for Word users can assist better?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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A
Anonymous
September 16, 2009

Thanks, Peter.

Regarding #1:  Yes, I have looked at the help file in different browsers and on different machines.  All text is black, no colors.  Colors continue to show up just fine in the Word document.

How did you apply the color in Word?  And what version of Word are you using? I've got Word 2007.  I've tried applying color in the document (by clicking on Word's colored font icon), and I've tried using colored styles.  Neither works.

Regarding #2:  I'm having both problems you mention -- too much spacing between bullets and text, and the text not indenting properly on the second line.  I'd be very interested in looking at the posts you mention about the latter issue.

I fixed #3; that was a style problem, as it turned out.

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 20, 2009

1] I will be happy to look at this one after my holiday. Leave it two weeks and then email me via my site. Send me the Word document and a link to this thread.

2] There are not too many posts in this category so either scroll through or search. You might find scrolling easier.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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