Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

TraceyYates · Post by **TraceyYates** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:32 am

I frequently have cases where users need to repeat a series of steps in a procedure (i.e. Repeat steps 2-6). Naturally, I don't like hard-coding the step numbers in, in case later updates to the steps cause the numbering to change (i.e. now they need to repeat steps 2-7).

From what I found in the Help, I can set up an auto-numbered list, and then use cross-references containing the paragraph's autonumber to have my step numbers automatically update. I set up a paragraph style for my numbered list and separate paragraph styles for feedback statements, graphics between numbered steps, etc. Things look great in the WYSIWIG editor in Flare. However, when I preview the WebHelp output, or when I build the WebHelp output, the steps themselves are shown as tables with a <td class> the same as my paragraph style. This was unexpected, and I don't understand why it's happening.

Here is the code from a topic (it does NOT have any auto-numbered cross-references in it):

<body>
<h1><MadCap:variable name="System.Title" />
</h1>
<p class="NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="1. ">Choose <span class="UIElement">Start â†’ Programs â†’ FIREHOUSE Software â†’ FH.NET</span>. </p>
<p class="NumberedList_123Feedback">Your default Internet browser appears, and FH.net prompts you for a username and password.</p>
<p class="GraphicAutoNumber">
<img src="../Resources/Images/FHNet/LoginDB.jpg" />
</p>
<p class="NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="2. ">In <span class="UIElement">User Name</span> and <span class="UIElement">Password</span>, enter your FH user name and password. </p>
<p class="NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="3. ">Click <span class="UIElement">Login</span>.</p>
<p class="NumberedList_123Feedback">The FH.net user interface appears. </p>
<p class="GraphicAutoNumber">
<img src="../Resources/Images/FHNet/FHnetMainScreen.jpg" />
</p>
</body>

And here is the code I can see when I view the source for the WebHelp output.

<body>
<h1>Log into FH.net</h1>
<table class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" style="width: 100%; margin-left: 0;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<col style="width: 0px;" />
<col style="width: 24px;" />
<col style="width: auto;" />
<tr>
<td valign="top" />
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" valign="top"><span>1. </span>
</td>
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="1. " valign="top">Choose <span class="UIElement">Start â†’ Programs â†’ FIREHOUSE Software â†’ FH.NET</span>. </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="NumberedList_123Feedback">Your default Internet browser appears, and FH.net prompts you for a username and password.</p>
<p class="GraphicAutoNumber">
<img src="../Resources/Images/FHNet/LoginDB.jpg" />
</p>
<table class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" style="width: 100%; margin-left: 0;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<col style="width: 0px;" />
<col style="width: 24px;" />
<col style="width: auto;" />
<tr>
<td valign="top" />
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" valign="top"><span>2. </span>
</td>
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="2. " valign="top">In <span class="UIElement">User Name</span> and <span class="UIElement">Password</span>, enter your FH user name and password. </td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" style="width: 100%; margin-left: 0;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<col style="width: 0px;" />
<col style="width: 24px;" />
<col style="width: auto;" />
<tr>
<td valign="top" />
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" valign="top"><span>3. </span>
</td>
<td class="AutoNumber_p_NumberedList_123" MadCap:autonum="3. " valign="top">Click <span class="UIElement">Login</span>.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="NumberedList_123Feedback">The FH.net user interface appears. </p>
<p class="GraphicAutoNumber">
<img src="../Resources/Images/FHNet/FHnetMainScreen.jpg" />
</p>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../SkinSupport/MadCapBodyEnd.js">
</script>
</body>

Can anyone tell me what happened, and how I should fix it? I'm stumped.

Thanks,
Tracey

Post by **NorthEast** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:11 am

I think it uses tables to control the layout if the style property mc-auto-number-position is set to outside-head; e.g. using inside-head should result in paragraphs (but will obviously look different).

TraceyYates · Post by **TraceyYates** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:14 am

Ok, that fixed the tables-in-the-output problem.

Thanks!

But the head scratcher now is, with mc-auto-number-position back to inside-head, I get the following formatting:

1. xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx

What I need is:

1. xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx

How can I achieve a hanging indent for the paragraph, where the first line of the paragraph is extended, rather than indented? In the Help, I can find how to indent the first line of a paragraph, and I tried to enter negative number, but it seems to be ignoring me there. How else can I get a hanging indent, so that it has the appearance mc-auto-number-position = outside-head gave me?

Thanks,
Tracey

TraceyYates · Post by **TraceyYates** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:19 am

I take it back.

Flare was not ignoring me, I was changing the value in the wrong medium.

Once I entered the negative number in the correct medium, I got the appearance I need.

Thanks again for the help!

Tracey

lacastle · Post by **lacastle** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:50 am

i had this problem last year - http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... =6&t=12405
i couldn't get your solution to work, but congratulations if it works for you

MadCap Software Forums

Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

Re: Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

Re: Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

Re: Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?

Re: Auto-numbered paragraphs showing as a tables in WebHelp?