List using normal style numbers incorrectly when list type changes at the same level

[NeatsByTheBeach]

I have a project where I do not use list styles. So, I use the standard <ul><ol><li> tags using the type attribute, and apply the normal style only. This works pretty well except when I have a list that uses different bullets or numbering at the same level.

e.g. HTML CODE

<ol type="1">
<li><p>asdfasdfasdf</p></li>
<li><p>asdfasdfsdf</p></li>
<ol type="a">
  <li><p>asdfasdf</p></li>
  <ul type="disc">Note: 3rd level list using disc bullet format
   <li><p>asdf</p></li>
   <li><p>asdfasdfasdf</p></li>
  </ul>
  <li><p>asdf</p></li>
  <ol type="i"> Note: 3rd level list using i, ii, iii format

   <li><p>sdf</p></li>
   <li><p>sdf</p></li>
  </ol>
  <li><p>aksdfkljasf</p></li>
  <ol type="a">
   <li type="i"><p>asdfj;kldfj</p></li>
   <li type="i"><p>askfjklf</p></li>
  </ol>
  <li><p>asdfkjsf</p></li>
  <li><p>sadfkjf</p></li>
</ol>
<li><p>asdfasdfsdf</p></li>
<li><p>asdfasdfdf</p></li>
</ol>

PRINTED OUTPUT

Note that it gets the 3rd level list types correct, but that it messes up the second level lists (a, b, 2, 3, 4).

As you can see above, I can replicate this in both a large project and a single topic project.

I'm wondering if this is a known limitation, and if so, can anyone point me to the simplest workaround?

[Willam van Weelden]

Hi,

Which version of RoboHelp are you using? I tested in RH7 and RH8 but I can't reproduce your problem. Does it show correct in RoboHelp?

A minor thing: your lists are invalid html. The correct syntax for nested lists is:

<ul>

   <li>First level

      <ul>

         <li>Second level</li>

         <li>Second level

            <ul>

               <li>Third level</li>

            </ul>

         </li>

         <li>Second level</li>

      </ul>

   </li>

   <li>First level</li>

</ul>

Greet,

Willam

[NeatsByTheBeach]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I'm using Robohelp 8.

I have always thought that what you suggested was the correct syntax... however:

- if I just type the text I want into the design tab in robohelp, the format I originally posted is the default HTML it generates.

- when I output to printed documentation with the correct nested format, I get even more anomolies, and it doesn't handle conditional build tags very well. (i.e. lots of content that looks like it is tagged to be not included shows up in the printed documentation).

So, I've been using the default HTML that robohelp generates.

I did try the correct HTML for nested lists in this simple topic without conditional build tags.

<ol type="1">
<li><p>asdfasdfasdf</p></li>
<li><p>asdfasdfsdf</p>
<ol type="a">
  <li><p>asdfasdf</p>
  <ul type="disc">
   <li><p>asdf</p></li>
   <li><p>asdfasdfasdf</p></li>
  </ul></li>
  <li><p>asdf</p>
  <ol type="i">
   <li><p>sdf</p></li>
   <li><p>sdf</p></li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><p>aksdfkljasf</p>
  <ol type="a">
   <li type="i"><p>asdfj;kldfj</p></li>
   <li type="i"><p>askfjklf</p></li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><p>asdfkjsf</p></li>
  <li><p>sadfkjf</p></li>
</ol></li>
<li><p>asdfasdfsdf</p></li>
<li><p>asdfasdfdf</p></li>
</ol>

The printed documentation looks like this:

I should also note that HTMLHelp comes out fine.

Perhaps you could share your files where you couldn't reproduce the problem, and I can work backwards to see where the problem is for me?

[Willam van Weelden]

Hi,

- If you use the WYSIWYG, RH does produce invalid HTML. Annoying isn't it?

- I haven't tried conditional build tags. I created a blank project and pasted your code in the first topic and generated printed documentation. Nothing fancy. What happens if you create a new project and add the list without conditional build tags? If that is correct, try adding the conditional tags one by one to see where it breaks.

Greet,

Willam

[NeatsByTheBeach]

Thanks again for your help.

Unfortunately in the example I've given you above, it is a new project with a new topic, without conditional build tags.

I have also tried removing all style sheets from the topic.

What options are you selecting for the printed output? I think I have tried most combinations, but perhaps if I could replicate what you're doing... especially your settings from the last page ('use styles').

Thanks so much

[Willam van Weelden]

Hi,

I just created a new project and added the HTML from your first post. Generated printed documentation with the default settings, using the projects CSS and not a style mapping.dot. (Using Word 2007) Can you share an example project that goes wrong? Just create a new project with one topic and add the list. Whatever I do, I can't reproduce this.

Greet,

Willam

[NeatsByTheBeach]

OK, so for anyone reading this post, we have had further conversation offline, and it turns out that the behaviour is reproducable, and most likely a bug (which I have logged, and anyone else coming across this should log too).

It seems that switching from an unordered 3rd level list to a ordered 3rd level list, messes up the numbering for the 2nd level list (as per my examples earlier in the thread).

Willam has suggested that using <ol type=disc> to keep all lists using ordered lists, even if you're after bullets, might be a workaround, but unfortunately it didn't help me (it might help some other people though). I have just made note of the places in my documentation that are affected by this and fix them manually in word after I have generated the document.

Thanks Willam for all your help confirming this is a bug!