RH2019 - Multi-level list missed in the css-editor

[Helix_dd]

Hello,

in RH2017 I used multi-level list to structure the instructions with intermediate steps and interim result (1. Level: Instruction, 2. Level: intermediate step, 3. Level: interim result). In the css it was the element rh-list. After the migration to RH2019 that does not work anymore...

Any ideas? In the default.css I just found one multi-level list (ol) but I didn't find any option to create my own multi-level list.

Thanks for your help.

Felix

[Peter Grainge]

I believe that one is a work in progress.

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@petergrainge

[Helix_dd]

What would you say from your experience how long that will take? 1-2 month, 6 month or longer?

[Stefan-Gentz]

Not sure, if I understand you correct … Do you mean something like this?

<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
  <li>
    <p>Instruction</p>
    <ol>
      <li>
        <p>Intermediate step</p>
        <ol>
          <li>
            <p>Interim result</p>
          </li>
        </ol>
      </li>
    </ol>
 </li>
</ol>

[StevenR]

Maybe our problem is correlated to that, although it happens with RH2019 Classic.

(I already posted it under HTML5 Layouts).

We discovered a strange behaviour in RH2019 Classic with multi level lists:

When editing content in the HTML viewer and going back to the GUI viewer the list suddenly has lost its proper formatting.

The reason is, that RH created a new style and named it "p-" plus the name of the paragraph style that is referenced in the list style.

As we use the same paragraph style in various multi level list styles, all these list styles now get the same new name of the paragraph (plus the p-). Thus we can not fix this just by adding the new list style name to the css.

Any solution?

Regards

Steffen

[Helix_dd]

Yes, something like that but in RH2017, there where special elelemts: rh-list.

Example from RH2017:

<?rh-list_start class="Instructions" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>
                <p class="step">To choose a sensor from a list:</p>
                <?rh-list_end ?>
                  <?rh-list_start class="Instructions" level="2" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>
                    <p class="intermediate-step" style="margin-left: 20px;">Choose [Add] &gt; Sensor.</p>
                    <?rh-list_end ?>
                      <?rh-list_start class="Instructions" level="3" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>
                        <p class="interim-result" style="margin-left: 20px;">The window "sensor" appears.<br/>
                          <img alt="" border="0" height="329" src="../assets/images/re_select-sensor.png" style="border: none;" width="268" /></p>
                        <?rh-list_end ?>
                          <?rh-list_start class="Instructions" level="2" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>
                            <p class="intermediate-step" style="margin-left: 20px;">Choose the desired sensor.</p>
                            <?rh-list_end ?>
                              <?rh-list_start class="Instructions" level="3" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>
                                <p class="interim-result" style="margin-left: 20px;">A symbol of the sensor is shown on the map.</p>
                                <?rh-list_end ?>
                                  <?rh-list_start class="Instructions" level="1" style="list-style: rh-list; list-style: rh-list;" ?>

[Helix_dd]

sorry, don't know how to post the html example as code block.

[Stefan-Gentz]

You can post source code here like this:

1. Change to the "Advanced Editor":
   

2. In the Advanced Editor click on >>, then Syntax Highlighting, then XML:

   

Would be very useful to see the code, to get a better idea what the underlying structure is.

[Peter Grainge]

Me too!

An upgraded project shows the list items but without the numbering.

A new project with the same CSS will not play nicely when the tab key is pressed.

I am currently exchanging emails with Adobe in an attempt to figure out how to get multi-level lists working. I'll be back when I know more.

Meantime Steffan, can I delete your other thread so that we can keep the information here?

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@petergrainge

[Stefan-Gentz]

Hm. Which other thread do you want to delete?

[Peter Grainge]

Stefan

I know which post needs to be deleted and I can do that but only with the posters permission.

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@petergrainge

[Stefan-Gentz]

Maybe I still have not understood what the problem with multi-level lists is. The code I gave above, looks like this for me in RH 2019:

[Peter Grainge]

Stefan

The indents you show are correct but the numbering is not. At each level of indentation the numbering should change however it has been defined in the multi level list style.

For example

1 Item

    a Item

          i Item

It works in 2017 but so far not in 2019.

I will email you a zip file with a 2017 project and a 2019 project so that you can see it better.

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@petergrainge

[Stefan-Gentz]

I see. What about this: Just create your own ol list style with first level decimal and following levels lower-alpha?

The upper list has manually defined styles for the second and third level lists. But that is of course uncomfortable.

More easy it is, to create your own list style (here: "stefan"). I have defined it here in a way, that the first level is decimal, and all deeper levels get lower-alpha.

CSS for this:

ol.stefan {
  list-style-type: decimal;
}
ol.stefan ol {
  list-style-type: lower-alpha;
}

Then just create a new list and assign your own list style to it.

[Peter Grainge]

Isn't that just a series of different single level lists rather than a multi level list?

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@petergrainge

[Stefan-Gentz]

It's a multi-level list (nested list), see my code sample:

<ol class="stefan">
  <li>
    <p>Instruction</p>
    <ol>
      <li>
        <p>Intermediate step</p>
        <ol>
          <li>
            <p>Interim result</p>
          </li>
        </ol>
      </li>
    </ol>
 </li>
</ol>

[Stefan-Gentz]

Or like in your example with three different levels:

ol.stefan {
  list-style-type: decimal;
  counter-reset: item1;
}
ol.stefan ol {
  list-style-type: lower-latin;
}
ol.stefan ol ol {
  list-style-type: lower-roman;
}

[Peter Grainge]

Unless I am misunderstanding, you are having to do this at code level, correct?

If not, then please set out the steps for making it work via the UI as I

cannot.

Peter Grainge

www.grainge.org

@petergrainge

[Stefan-Gentz]

No, this can also be done with the visual CSS editor in RoboHelp 2019. See my reply to Steffen below with the detailed steps description and screenshots.

[StevenR]

Hi Peter,

sure you can delete the other thread.

[Peter Grainge]

Deleted.

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@petergrainge

[StevenR]

I think its about cerating a multi level list.

In RH2017/2019 Classic there is/was a own menu to create such a list:

In the top bar:

As context menu

And in the styles pod:

Now there is only a "simple" list feature and no way to create such a list.
By the way we use multi level lists intensively. Only in this list type you can add a parastyle and thus add list style and para style to a paragraph with just one click. But unfortunately this does not work anymore even in the Classic version properly.

Regards

Steffen

[Stefan-Gentz]

Hi Steffen,

This can be found in RoboHelp 2019 here:

1. Open your project.
2. Go to "Contents".
3. In "Contents" open the "assets\css" folder, and double-click your CSS file to open it (here: "default.css"):
   
4. Now the visual CSS designer opens up. Select an existing style in the styles catalog in "List Styles" to edit it:
   
   Or duplicate an existing style with the button, or create a completely new list style with the button:
   
5. You can now customize the numbering completely.
6. When done, you can open a topic and start with creating a simple list. You might want to select the "ol" tag in the breadcrumb navigation and then select your style "Handlung_Folge":

Now you can simply use the "Tab" key and "Shift+Tab" to push a list item up and down the list levels. The numbering changes automatically depending on the list level and according to your style specification.

Does that help?

[Helix_dd]

Thanks, I also found that, but it does not work that well. The configuration in the editor does not work properly and I do not see a option to connect a format to a specific level (as it works in RH classic). I can choose different levels in the editor, but all changes I make (font, alignment, ...) effects all levels.

If I try to use the format in the content (double-click on the template) nothing happens...

Since the old multi-level RH-lists (<?rh-list>) in RH2019 are probably not compatible and I created about 75% of my content with that and furthermore today I also found out that a Word-export with RH2019 is also not possible, I'll change to RH2019 classic.

Thanks for your efforts, I will give RH2019 another chance in half a year or so ...

[Peter Grainge]

I found the list editor created mulit-level lists OK. I selected Level 1 and made my changes, then Level 2 and so on. To apply I created Item 1 in a list, clicked the list icon on the toolbar and then in Styles I selected the list style I had created. I then added the rest of the list and tabbed where I wanted lower levels.

That will not fix your old lists though and from the sound of it, that is quite an issue for you. Adobe are working on fixing that in an update and it would be worth trying sooner, two or three months? I don't know but that's my best guess.

When printed documentation comes in, other than PDF format, it will be in ODF format. That can be opened in Word and other programs such as Open Office or Libre Office.

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@petergrainge