Adding keywords to topic properties

You can add keywords to topics by changing the topic properties. With this method, you work with topics individually, rather than from the list of keywords in the Index Designer.

If you assign the same keyword to more than one topic, the keyword is displayed only once on the Index tab. When users double-click the keyword, all related topics are listed.

To add a keyword to topic properties:

  1. From the Topic List or Project Manager, select the topic.

  2. Click Properties .

  3. Click the Index tab.

  4. In Keywords, enter the new keyword or phrase, and then click Add.

  5. To add a subkeyword, enter the parent keyword followed by a backslash \ and then enter the subkeyword.

Note: If you enter a new parent keyword at the same time that you enter the subkeyword, the parent keyword is displayed in bold in the Index Designer to indicate that it is not linked to a topic. If you do not link it to a topic, neither the parent or subkeyword will be displayed at the Index tab.

To change the spelling of a keyword:

  1. From the list of keywords on the Topic Properties dialog, select the one you want to change.

  2. In the keyword text box, edit the text.

  3. Click Replace.

To create a keyword based on an existing keyword:

  1. From the list of keywords on the Topic Properties dialog, select the one to copy.

  2. In the keyword text box, create the new keyword by editing the existing text.

  3. Click Add. The existing keyword remains in the index and the new one is added, based on the changes made in the text box.

  1. From the list of keywords on the Topic Properties dialog, select the one you want to remove.

  2. Click Delete. The current topic is no longer associated with the keyword, but it's still listed in the Index Designer. If no other topics use this keyword, it appears in bold in the Index Designer to indicate that it is unused.

  3. To remove it from the Index Designer list, click the Index tab and select Remove Unused Keywords from the Tools menu.

Tips:

  • If you want to copy keywords from other topics, click Add Existing, select the topic that includes the keywords and select the ones you want to add.

  • To scan the topic and generate a list of suggested keywords to add to the topic, click Smart Index.

  • To verify whether you are adding index file keywords or topic keywords, click Properties. The option Add New Keywords To indicates the kind of keywords you are currently adding to the project.

  • If you add the same keyword twice, once as a topic keyword and once as an index file keyword, the Index Designer displays both keywords and identifies each one with a unique icon. The compiled index only displays a single keyword. When users select it from the Index tab, a list related topics is displayed so they can make their selection.