Ruler height in preview doesn't match output

[dwag]

I've got rulers inserted in a bunch of topics. In the stylesheet, the color is set to blue, the height to 3px. They look fine in preview mode; in the output, however, all are sickly thin and gray, maybe 1px.

[Nita Beck]

Does your project have more than one stylesheet by any chance, and is your target associated with "(default)" rather than a specific stylesheet? I'm not sure that that's your specific problem, but what you're describing is pointing to a stylesheet issue. The problem either is in the stylesheet itself or is in some "disconnect" between the stylesheet and target or the stylesheet and topic.

(Well, I shouldn't come off as sounding so sure... perhaps it's a browser issue? Anyone got any suggestions along those lines?)

[dwag]

Thanks so much for passing along your thoughts. The project is using only one stylesheet. Below is a screenshot of that part of the Target Editor. As far as I'm aware, no changes have been made to those values.

WebHelp Problem.jpg

I'd say it started happening out of the blue, but in case it has any bearing, a week or two ago, I updated to IE8 and don't think I've built the file since then. Everything in the output but the rulers seems to be fine. The frustrating part is, I'm scheduled to show the output to a group of colleagues in a few hours, and the absence of those customized rulers makes a huge difference in the look. Depressing.

[NorthEast]

I updated to IE8 and don't think I've built the file since then.

That's probably your answer; it's likely that IE8 is displaying your rulers differently to previous versions.

I know there are differences between how FireFox and IE handle rulers, maybe IE8 is different to IE7 and is more in-line with Firefox.

Anyway, it'll probably mean tweaking your stylesheet to find something that works; for starters see...
http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginning ... hr_tag.htm

[LTinker68]

I tend not to use rulers (<hr> tag) because they're not treated consistently between browsers. Instead, I create a custom paragraph class and set a bottom or top border with the style I want. Even then, some border styles aren't treated consistently between browsers, but they seem to be more lenient with border styles of a paragraph than with the style of a ruler.

[Nita Beck]

I do the same as Lisa, rather than use rulers.

Perhaps, once you've created a p class with the border you like, you can do a search and replace (using regular expressions perhap?) to switch out the <hr></hr> tags with <p class="nameOfYourNewClass"></p>.

[dwag]

Looks as though the custom paragraph class is going to work. Guess I'll scrap the ruler approach for all time (didn't matter what height or color I used: in IE8, one inch and bold orange came out the same as ten-point and hot pink: half a pixel and gray). Thanks to both of you for the help.

[LTinker68]

Perhaps, once you've created a p class with the border you like, you can do a search and replace (using regular expressions perhap?) to switch out the <hr></hr> tags with <p class="nameOfYourNewClass"></p>.

You might have to add a non-breaking space between the paragraph tags, if only to prevent Flare from warning you that you have a set of empty tags. Some browsers prefer it, too.

[dwag]

Follow-up: custom paragraph class, with tastefully (or so I think) added line coloring, has been working beautifully--actually makes a bunch of boring text look almost worth reading. Until now. Have been merrily adding the p. class to topics, then last night, after building, noticed that all lines have turned black. Have changed nothing in the stylesheet. Is it a random bombing from IE 8? Or is there no way in Flare to apply lines, or section breaks, that will retain their colorings on into perpetuity?

[RamonS]

Try a different browser and see if that makes a difference. Given IE's blatant ignorance of web standards it wouldn't be a surprise.

[dwag]

Thanks. Haven't had chance to try a different browser, but before reading your suggestion, created another p. class, gave it a different name and applied same properties as previous, switched the old tags with the new, and the border suddenly looks like its old self in the compiled help. Doesn't make sense, I know. Is it me? Or is it IE? Guess we'll see how long this one lasts. Thanks, again.