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A
Anonymous
November 8, 2012
Question

Script for adding all topics to a single browse sequence

  • November 8, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • 2184 views

Hi all, has anybody perchance written a script that inserts all topics into a single browse sequence? This would be similar to the 'auto-create from TOC'-function but using a single long sequence instead of separate ones for each chapter.

Most of our users think that the concept of browse sequences is confusing in Webhelp. They just want simple 'forward' and 'backward' buttons that jump through the TOC.

Robert

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1 reply

Captiv8r
Captiv8r
Legend
November 8, 2012

Hi Robert

There's no need for a script. Just use the auto-create. Then type 0 (zero) for the level.

Cheers... Rick

A
Anonymous
November 8, 2012

..even though the topics are added in a strange manner.

First the BRS jumps through the topics assigned to the top level books

(Chapter 1, Chapter 2 etc.). Then at the end it continues at the start

again and jumps through the topics in the individual chapters. Well,

I'll come up with a feature name that imlpies it was planned that way.

Captiv8r
Captiv8r
Legend
November 20, 2012

That is what we hoped for:

1. In FM, you have two separate TOCs (one structured with chapters, one

flat).

2. When yu recaive an updated version of the FM book, you first change

the settings to import the flat TOC and update.

3. Expected result: a flat TOC is generated in RH which can be used to

build the browse sequence.

4. After this, change the import settings back to the structured TOC and

update again.

5. Result: the TOC in RH is built again using the chapter structure. The

browse sequence still works.

The problem is step 3, we never achieved a flat TOC in RH.

I admit that this is a quite awkward process anyway. It seems like the

only way to automize the forward/backward buttons which are a

requirement here. I would have omitted these button in the first place,

no need to put 50% of time in nice-to-have features..


Robert, from my vantage point it seems you sort of missed the point of what Peter was stating.

I know you are authoring in Frame. But for the moment, just forget about anything Frame related. Just assume all you have is RoboHelp with Frame out of the picture.

It's quite simple in RoboHelp to build a TOC. Just create a blank one. Then display your Topic List pod. All topics should be visible. Click to select one in the pod, then press Ctrl+A to select all of them. Then drag them all from the pod to the empty TOC. That should create a single (and flat) TOC that could be used for the Browse Seuence definition. Total time should be less than a minute for that whole process.

Once you have that new flat TOC the way you want, you would then only have to maintain it a tad by adding new topics that were added in Frame. It should remain unaffected by anything you do in Frame as Frame should be blissfully unaware of its existince.

Cheers... Rick

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