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NavHarry
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April 22, 2009
Answered

Searches in generated Help Files

  • April 22, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 1037 views

Hi,

I create help files for multiple customers from the same project. I have multiple table of contents with lots of topics that need to be customized for different customers. After I generate the help files I do a search as a test. The problem is that the Robohelp search result includes topics that I did not include in the table of contents.

thanks for your help

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peter Grainge

    That is by design and desirable. The TOC is simply a way of bringing a reader's attention to key topics. It does not have to include all the topics in the build. Let me give an example.


    I have a project with around 12,000 topics. Only a very small number of those would be in TOC, the rest being accessed from links in the topics.


    All topics in Project Manager will be in the build by default. If you have some reason for leaving them in the project but do not want them in the build, such as different versions, then you need to apply a Conditional Build Tag and then use a Build Expression to exclude those topics when you generate the output.

    You need to create different layouts for the different versions, each with the required build expression for that output.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    2 replies

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 22, 2009

    That is by design and desirable. The TOC is simply a way of bringing a reader's attention to key topics. It does not have to include all the topics in the build. Let me give an example.


    I have a project with around 12,000 topics. Only a very small number of those would be in TOC, the rest being accessed from links in the topics.


    All topics in Project Manager will be in the build by default. If you have some reason for leaving them in the project but do not want them in the build, such as different versions, then you need to apply a Conditional Build Tag and then use a Build Expression to exclude those topics when you generate the output.

    You need to create different layouts for the different versions, each with the required build expression for that output.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.
    EileenPalsson
    EileenPalsson
    Inspiring
    January 8, 2010

    Isn't this what Properties -> Exclude From Search is for in RH8?

    If so, it's not working -- at least in my project.

    If not, its actual intended use escapes me.

    Enlightenment would be appreciated.

    Correction: Never mind, I found the info in a separate thread: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2354655#2354655

    Namely, this functionality works for WebHelp but not CHM. (Why didn't Adobe say so in their help?)

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2010

    Eileen

    You posted a question about this in Community Help. The purpose of commenting is to enable users to post comments that help others or provide feedback to Adobe how the help can be improved rather than being for asking questions. It just isn't designed for that. If you would like to post another comment pointing out this should be covered in the help, I'll be happy to approve that one so that it gets to the authoring team. The question however will have to be deleted. I'll do that when I approve the feedback comment.

    I think this point is also covered in the RH Tour on my site. The fact that this option is not available to CHMs is not something Adobe can fix, it's simply that the Microsoft Help Compiler was not designed for it and only MS can change that.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Follow me @petergrainge

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    RoboWizard
    RoboWizard
    Inspiring
    April 22, 2009

    Hi there

    Indeed just because a topic is not in the TOC it is not excluded from search.

    To exclude from search you need to use Conditional Build Tags.

    Think of the TOC as you would a simple web page with links to other pages. Just because the link isn't there does not mean the page cannot be found.

    Cheers... Rick

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