Creating text-only topics

When you create text-only topic files, you create the topics and write the content at the same dialog. If you are using map files supplied by your developer, import them into the project before you begin.

To create text-only topics:

  1. Click the Project tab.

  2. Open the Context-Sensitive folder.

  3. Right-click the Text-Only Topic Files folder and select Create/Import Text-Only Topic File.

  4. In File name, enter a name for the text-only topic file. If you imported a map file, use the same file name for the text-only topic file. For example, if the map file is pizza.h, use “pizza” as the text-only topic file name (the .TXT extension is automatically assigned to this file).

  5. Click Open.

  6. Select a topic ID for the first text-only topic to create. Use one of the following methods:

  1. In Topic Text, type the content for the topic (drag the mouse across the default text and start typing to replace it). This text is displayed in a popup window when users request help for the field or control in the dialog box. Example:

  2. Click Add/Update. The text-only topic is created and added to the .TXT file.

  3. Repeat steps 6 – 9 or each topic to create.

  4. Save and compile your project to update the .CHM file.

Tips:

  • It is not necessary to write topics or add code for the OK, Cancel, Save, Open, Print and other buttons associated with common Windows dialog boxes, because they are already included. You only need to write Help for the custom controls. If you are not sure which controls are customized, ask your developer.

  • Your HTML Help project can include one or more .TXT files. For example, if your application developer supplies you with three different map files, you need to create three different text-only files to match the map files.