RoboHelp 2022 - Applying styles from existing (converted) CSS

Report · Nov 11, 2024

Hello. I have a project that I have recently converted from classic (2017) to RoboHelp 2022 (Version 2022.2.22).

I have an existing CSS that has styles for numbered, lettered, and bulleted lists. When I try to apply these list styles, either nothing happens, or it picks a random style that is not the list style.

I've found that I can copy an existing list from either the same or another topic and then edit it, but there has to be a better way than that. I can also edit the style in the code, but that of course takes longer than just clicking on the list style that I need. Existing lists from converted topics appear to be working fine.

Another wrinkle - if I apply a non-list style, and then try to change it back to normal (which appears to now just be ), again, nothing happens.

For example:

This has style (I tried to apply my numbered list but it did not apply; the code verifies it's just ):

I change it to an indented style:

Then I decide I didn't want that, and want to go back to my normal style - I select the text, double click on the style, and it does not change it. The code verifies that it's still my indented style. I could change it to something else - a header style, and further indented style, but not back to the style. I could edit the code...but why won't it just go back to it when I select it?

I hope I've explained this well. Also if this is a bug that is fixed in a future patch, please let me know. It takes 4-6 weeks to apply a patch so I can't do it right away, but it'll be good to know.

thanks!

Chris

Report · Nov 11, 2024

Check out the list of fixed issues in all the patch releases - https://helpx.adobe.com/robohelp/kb/fixed-issues.html - I think your lists issue got fixed in patch 4.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

In Classic versions it was quite common to apply a list style and then also apply a paragraph style to get the desired result. In the New UI versions you can still do that but it is much better to configure your list style to give what you want, without overriding it.

On the subject of Normal and , they are one and the same. In Classic versions the editor was made to look like Word where the term is Normal. In the HTML world there is no Normal style, it is the paragraph style, the tag.

Select the paragraph that is indented and should not be. Make sure the tag is highlighted and then also click (None) at the top. You might need to click the breadcrumb for the paragraph above.

If that is not it, add a screenshot of the indented paragraph so that we can look at that.

________________________________________________________

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Report · Nov 12, 2024

Hi Peter! Selecting None instead of worked for the 2nd issue with the indent. Thank you!

For the list styles, I don't think I understand. In classic, I've never applied more than one style (at least not to my knowledge). Prior to applying a list style, or any style, the style is usually normal by default, but I never select more than one. If I want to add a list, I just click on the text, then double-click on the list style and it applies it. Just like double-clicking on a regular non-list style like a header or indented paragraph applies it. But for 2022, when I double click on my numbered list style, it does nothing. And when I double click on my bulleted list style, it applies a different (non list, just indented paragraph) style that I didn't click on at all.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

The tag in your other thread shows that normal has been applied to that list.

To apply a list style, click on a blank line or in a paragraph that you want to become a list. Click once on the list style in the styles pod on the right. Do they have the list icon as shown below?

If not, which icon do they have?

Let us know that first.

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Help others by clicking Correct Answer if the question is answered. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

They have a different icon:

That's for the bulleted listed, but the numbered and lettered lists have the same icon. Do you know what that icon is called?

Looking at your icons gave me an idea. If I first select the OL style and then select my numbered list style, it applies it correctly. Or if I first select the UL style and then my bulleted list, it also works. I'd rather just be able to do it in one click, but at least I know this is an option.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

I think I have figured this out. I just want to make sure that if I just change my style sheet it won't have a negative impact that I'm not thinking of.

My list styles in the style sheet have a li before them. For example, li.bulletspace. If I change it to UL.bulletspace (does caps matter for the UL and OL in the CSS?), it allows me to just double click on the style and apply it. And then I can change the numbered styles from li. to OL. I have to change some of the margin measurements as well, but that seems to work.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

OL and UL are the start of any list, ordered (numbered) unordered (bullet). LI is what precedes each item in the list. They are not interchangeable.

Lists can have classes so you could have say OL.arabic and OLroman for different numbering.

For anything that applies to every class, you would set in the OL style. That could be the default font. Then in any class, you could specify a different font. The same for unordered lists.

What you should have going forward is a set of properly defined list styles where all the styling is defined in the list.

Your code should be something like this. The appearance in the topic will be whatever is in the OL style unless it is overwritten in the OL decimal class. You might find it easier not to put anything in the OL style and apply all the styling in the decimal class.

<ol class="decimal">
<li>This is some sample text. This is some sample text.</li>
</ol>

With your CSS put right, it could impact your other topics as it will depend on the code in each topic. I have no way of knowing what you have done there.

If you would like to create a new project with just one or two topics with content that shows what you have and what you want plus your CSS, I can have a look if you need more help. If you do, then see the Contact page on my site and send the project as instructed there. Do make sure you include a link to this thread and please do not email the project direct.

________________________________________________________

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

Help others by clicking Correct Answer if the question is answered. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

Report · Nov 12, 2024

I may do that just in case, but I think I at least know what to do with the CSS.

I'm not sure why the original CSS is the way it was; it's been so long since it was created. For some reason, classic was able to apply it correctly even if it may have been set up incorrectly.

The code from classic looks like this:

</ol>

In 2022, the converted code looks like this - this would be in topics I haven't edited after the conversion:

</ol>

This seems to display my output correctly even with the corrected CSS; I looked at some of longer topics and they were displayed correctly. So I believe I could go live with this rather than having to update every single topic. And then as I have to edit topics, I could clean up the code by reapplying the styles.

With the updated CSS, if I reapply the styles, the code now looks like this in 2022: