variables

[Guest]

We're about to embark on a re-branding exercise and were considering the use of variables. From what we can see so far they can't be added to Topic titles, TOC or Index entries just text. Has anyone out there had experience of using variables and if so were they any good?

BTW what I'm talking about here is roughly 3 variables per project, one each for product name, company name and platform name.

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

Variables have saved me a considerable amount of time, especially when the

product name changes. Saved me from some nasty search and replace

operations.

You can use variables in the TOC, but not in Topic (index) keywords and in

topic titles.

If I'm not mistaken, you can also define different definitions for the

same keyword in RH8. You can create different outputs for different

purposes and set which definitions you want to use.

Greet,

Willam

[Guest]

How do you add variables into the TOC please?

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

Select a TOC entry, right click and select Properties.

Under Available Variables, select the variable and click Add.

Greet,

Willam

[MergeThis]

By "Topic title" do you mean a Heading 1? If so, I just dragged and dropped a variable into one.

As to the TOC & Index entries, you can apply conditional build tags to any of them; you can even create a separate TOC & Index for different layouts.

(This applies to RH 8, which I assume you're using.)

Good luck,

Leon

[Guest]

No, what I mean is the topic property called  topic title which is of course used for the basis of TOC and drag and drop hyperlinks etc. I know you can add to the text in the topic itslef but the topic title will still say old company for example...

My thinking at present is to eliminate the use of company and product names in topic titles and therefore TOC...

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

You may not add Variables to Topic Titles. But the TOC and Index you can.

This holds true for versions 7 and 8 of RoboHelp. Unsure about version 6.

Cheers... Rick

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[Captiv8r · Accepted solution]

D'oh! Leon popped in before I finished my post. LOL

For the TOC or the Index, you right-click the entry and add the variable via properties.

Choose the variable and click Add.

Cheers... Rick

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[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

Variables in the index only work when you use the HHK for the index. If

you save the index keywords in the topics, neither Cross referencing or

Variables work.

Greet,

Willam

[Captiv8r]

Hi Willam

Isn't this the preferred way to work?

Personally, I can't fathom why anyone would work otherwise. But I suppose some may.

Cheers... Rick

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[Captiv8r]

If you have a need to present different Topic Titles, you will need to employ the Conditional Build tags. You would create multiple topics with each having the desired title. If you only want to maintain a single topic for the main content, you may do that as well. One avenue is to insert an Inline Frame into each of these topics that would present the main gist of the topic content.

Cheers... Rick

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[Willam_van_Weelden]

Not by me

Greet,

Willam

[Guest]

Thanks all,

I should be able implement this in a servicable way.