Adding ALink controls

An ALink is a control that displays a list of HTML topics that are associated with ALink names. This control provides a way for you to cross-reference groups of related topics based on ALink names. Before you can add ALink controls to topics, add the ALink names to the topics you want to use with them.

To add an ALink control:

  1. In the WYSIWYG Editor, click where you want to add the control in the topic.

  2. Click Insert Link Control .

  3. Select ALink Control and click OK. The ALink Wizard opens.

  4. Set up the button options for the control.

  1. Click Next to select the ALink names to use with the control.

  2. From ALink Names in Project, select the ALink name and click Add. The name is added to the ALink Names in Control list on the left.

  3. If you want, select additional ALink names to use with the control. Keep in mind that the control displays the topic titles that use the ALink names. If you assign several ALink names, the control will display more topic names than might be appropriate for navigation.

  4. Click Next to define how you want to display the topics when users click the control.

  1. If you are adding a standard button, click Next and set up the font options for the button label. You can assign a different font, style, and size. (This option does not apply to custom images or hidden controls.)

  2. Click Finish. The control is added to your topic.

Notes:

  • You need to generate the project to test the ALink control.

  • Destination topics cannot be displayed in secondary windows when selected from an ALink control because the current version of Microsoft HTML Help does not support this functionality.

  • If you merge indexes from multiple .CHM files, all topics that are assigned to the identical ALink names (used in the different .CHM files) are displayed when users click the ALink button.