Convert WebHelp to HTML 5

[DvoraElisheva]

Hi all,

Can you advise if I can convert a legacy Help project created in Flare 7 for WebHelp output to Flare 8, HTML 5 output?

If so, can you advise HOW to do it? What steps must I take?

Can I customize the look and feel of the GUI as for WebHelp?

Thanks in advance.

Dvora

[crdmerge]

You won't actually be "converting" WebHelp to HTML5; you'll just create a new HTML5 target and make that the Primary target. (You'll still be able to produce WebHelp anytime you want to.)

Note that opening the project in Flare 8 means you cannot open it in Flare 7 again. Just so you know...

As to customization, the buzz in this forum seems to indicate less options than in WebHelp. But others will probably jump in here, if that's wrong.


Good luck,
Leon

[DvoraElisheva]

I imported the project, rather than working with the original one, just for feasibility. Worked nicely. I did notice minor differences in some styles though. For example:

Drop-down text in a topic is too close to each other and very difficult to click when there is a list of drop-downs.

Search: No text is highlighted in the search, but I can search for exact phrases

No ability to bookmark favorites or searches

No Home button on the toolbar

No ability to navigate by sequence

At least in the default view.

So my questions:

Are those abilities there and I just need to find them?

Can I customize the navigation buttons as I do for WebHelp skins???

Thanks for the quick reply.

[LTinker68]

Search: No text is highlighted in the search, but I can search for exact phrases

The lack of highlighting has been reported, but make sure you submit a bug report, too, to http://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx.

No ability to bookmark favorites or searches

You'd just use the browser's built-in bookmarking feature, since HTML5 output doesn't have frames. For searches you'd have to perform the search first before creating the bookmark.

No Home button on the toolbar

I think the intent was for the logo to take over that function, but I think you can create buttons for the toolbar. I think (hadn't gotten that far yet).

No ability to navigate by sequence

I'll have to punt that one -- I don't use browse sequences.

[candeeh]

In HTML5 output, you can create custom buttons for the toolbar on the Toolbar tab of the Skin.

1. Open the HTML 5 skin that you have created, and click on the Toolbar tab.
2. At the bottom of the Available column are two buttons - the first button lets you create (add) a custom toolbar button. The second button lets you delete a custom toolbar button that you have created.
3. Click on the first button and provide a name for your custom button. Once you save it, the button name appears in the Available column.
4. Move the button from the Available column to the Selected column and then use the buttons at the bottom of the Selected column to move the custom button to where you want it in your toolbar layout. You are now ready to style your button.
5. Click on the Styles tab.
6. In the Styles column, go to Toolbar Button, and find the name of the custom button you just created.
7. Customize the button as you wish using the Properties on the right.
8. In the Event "Click" property "Value" box, type the code needed for your button to function.
Note that you cannot add a tooltip for the custom button from here, but there is a work-around that can be found on this forum. I believe Dave Lee recently re-posted the work-around.

Hope this helps!

[DvoraElisheva]

Thanks for the info... will give it a try!

[markmetcalfemm]

Can you give me an example in Step 8?

I created a Home button and a Help button (maddening that these aren't available to me), and I want to display a page in the project when I click on the button. Sounds simple but I don't know the code. (Putting a URL in the Click field doesn't do it, so I need an example to follow.)

Mark Metcalfe, Documentation Director
Ektron, Inc.
542 Amherst St.
Nashua, NH 03063
(603) 816-2076
mark.metcalfe@ektron.com

[NorthEast]

Can you give me an example in Step 8?

I created a Home button and a Help button (maddening that these aren't available to me), and I want to display a page in the project when I click on the button. Sounds simple but I don't know the code. (Putting a URL in the Click field doesn't do it, so I need an example to follow.)

Mark Metcalfe, Documentation Director
Ektron, Inc.
542 Amherst St.
Nashua, NH 03063
(603) 816-2076
mark.metcalfe@ektron.com

Set it to something like this:

Code: Select all

location.href='Default.htm#Topic.htm';

That reloads the help output file (Default.htm) with the home page topic (Topic.htm). If Topic.htm is inside a folder, use #Folder/Topic.htm.

[markmetcalfemm]

THANK YOU! That was the help I needed!!

Mark Metcalfe, Documentation Director
542 Amherst St.
Nashua, NH 03063
(603) 816-2076
mark.metcalfe@ektron.com

[chunkee]

Is there a way to add the tooltip to the button?
JC