How to show the TOC pane in Webhelp

[barbara_seddon]

I'm using RoboHelp 7 for HTML to produce Webhelp projects.

I find that whenever I compile the project, once it is embedded in the software application it is intended for, the TOC, Index and Search pane does not display automatically. Instead, there is a "Show" link at the top left of the topic window. When you select it, the pane is displayed.

The application users are complaining that they can't navigate the help because there is no TOC! It hasn't occurred to them to click on the "Show" link. Is there any way the TOC pane can be made to display automatically?

[Peter Grainge]

It is because of the way your developers are calling the help. They seem to be using direct URLs to the topics. See Calling WebHelp using URLs on my site.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

I published a simple script that forces the WebHelp to always open the navigation pane and navigation controls. See http://www.wvanweelden.eu/robohelp/skinning_webhelp/always_show_navigation_pane

Greet,

Willam

[barbara_seddon]

Hi William,

I tried this out and unfortunately, it did not work.

My webhelp project is context-senstive so the master page is rarely, if ever, the first topic that is opened. Could that be a reason why it doesn't work?

Regards,

Barbara

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

The Master page referred to is the Template of RoboHelp 7. If you add the code to the footer of your template, it should work.

Greet,

Willam

[barbara_seddon]

Hi William,

Thanks for the tip. I have tried it, pasting it into the footer of my project's template and unfortunately, it still will not work 😞

Regards,

Barbara

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

There should be a space between 'var' and 'panevisible' on the first line of the script. It works when you add the space. I've amended the page. Sorry about that.

Greet,

Willam

[barbara_seddon]

Hi Willam,

Sorry, just tried doing this and it still doesn't work.

Regards,

Barbara

[Willam_van_Weelden · Accepted solution]

Just tested on RoboHelp 7 and it works fine for me. Can you check the following:

• The script is inserted into the footer of your template and not in the body.
• All topics use the template.

Also, what browser are you using?

Greet,

Willam

[barbara_seddon]

Hi Willam,

Sorry, I had neglected to attach the template to my topics!!! Now that I have done so, everything is working according to your instructions.

Thank you very much for your help. Also, thanks to Peter Grainge.

Regards,

Barbara