lists and indentation

Report · Jun 23, 2008

Hello, I am having some trouble figuring out how RoboHelp is deciding to indent my numbered and bulleted lists. I have Convert AutoNumber to HTML List checked. This results in my lists coming through okay, but with an apparently arbitrary decision point made somewhere as to the exact left margin. That's okay, even though I would prefer that the lists not be indented, except a hanging indent under the number or bullet point. I can just go with that, because it is working and the sub-bullets come through at a greater indentation and whatever, it works. The problem is that I have paragraphs which represent a continued bullet or numbered paragraph. So, a second, or even a third paragraph that belongs to a single number or bullet point. Because I cannot determine how RoboHelp has decided to indent the bullets and numbered paragraphs, I am unable to set the bullet/numbered continued paragraphs at the correct indent. Indeed, I had thought that I could do this through trial and error and determine the correct number and so I worked out that it was about 10 points over from the left. But then RoboHelp decides to (again, apparently arbitrarily) bring these paragraphs 10 points over sometimes and 15 points over other times. Because RoboHelp is chronically confused? Anyone understand how it works? I would appreciate any insight into this topic.

Thank you,

Z.

Report · Jun 23, 2008

Try unchecking the Convert Autonumber to HTML List option and it should resolve the issue of indentation that you are facing.

Report · Jun 25, 2008

Thanks Pooja. This does bring my bulleted paragraphs over to the left and puts me more in charge of their formatting through a mapped style.

The reason I checked this option originally is because of the variable distance between the bullet character and the first word. It doesn't seem like a tab character is being used here. For this reason, I can't get my hanging indent to line up beneath the first word.

This becomes a significant problem when we begin to get into the numbered lists, because the first word moves over according the the shape of the specific number and therefore it varies. And then it begins to vary wildly as soon as we get into the double digits.

So I am not sure how to achieve a basic degree of professionalism because it is considered more or less mandatory to have this tab character and the lining up of the hanging indent. Certainly, I can't remember working with a program that didn't already know that.

That is why I checked this option to begin with, because that is the only way that I can achieve this totally basic feature, but perhaps you can advise me of what I am not perceiving at this time.

Thank you,

Z.

Report · Jun 26, 2008

Hi Z.Bulova,

Answering to your question on what you can achieve form selecting the Convert AutoNumber to HTML List option is that it converts and autonumbering style in your doucment to an HTML list. This HTML list does not consider any indentation from the original document and applies the defined indentation settings meant for an HTML list in RH. So if you wish to retain the indentation you have in your original document in RH, it would be better to uncheck this option.

As you mentioned "...The problem is that I have paragraphs which represent a continued bullet or numbered paragraph. So, a second, or even a third paragraph that belongs to a single number or bullet point. Because I cannot determine how RoboHelp has decided to indent the bullets and numbered paragraphs, I am unable to set the bullet/numbered continued paragraphs at the correct indent....", I'd recommend for such situations, you should uncheck the Convert AutoNumber to HTML List option.

Do read the Context-sensitive Help for the About style settings dialog box in RH.

Hope it make things easier for you :)

Regards,
Pooja

Report · Jun 30, 2008

I think the problem is that HTML lists are always displayd indented even if they have no iondention assigned. This is sort of a convention. Some browsers such as MS Internet Explorer can interpret a negative indention, so you can try to assign a style with an indention of e.g. -14px and it will move the list towords the begin of the line.

Report · Jul 03, 2008

That works out a lot better. Looks like I can get the lists moved over to the left by defining a negative indent. Thanks Robert and Pooja.

Still, when the numbered lists get into the double digits, they move further to the left to compensate. So the number itself looks to be right-aligned, whereas the text is left-aligned. Because of this, seems like I cannot establish a true left alignment for my numbered lists.

Best Regards,

Z.