Auto-generate identifiers for bookmarks within topics?

[phriend_o_phlair]

Is it possible?

[NorthEast]

If you mean in relation to the Generate identifiers option in the alias editor - no, that just generates an identifier per topic.

[phriend_o_phlair]

Thanks, Dave!

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Hmm. Since we're moving from .chm to WebHelp, I assume that means I'll have to go and manually generate 100's & 100's of these identifiers by hand?

Do you know if these identifiers can be maintained in the off chance that our architect wants to revert back to the .chm? He has been quite clear that *IF* we decide to go back to a .chm someday, he doesn't want anyone around here to have to go back in and edit the zillion of hooks again. (Currently, the source contains a bunch of relative paths back to the help topics/bookmarks).

[NorthEast]

Thanks, Dave!

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Hmm. Since we're moving from .chm to WebHelp, I assume that means I'll have to go and manually generate 100's & 100's of these identifiers by hand? :shock:

Do you know if these identifiers can be maintained in the off chance that our architect wants to revert back to the .chm? He has been quite clear that *IF* we decide to go back to a .chm someday, he doesn't want anyone around here to have to go back in and edit the zillion of hooks again. (Currently, the source contains a bunch of relative paths back to the help topics/bookmarks).

I don't understand why moving from CHM to WebHelp means you have to create 100s of identifiers.

Presumably whatever system you're using for CHM could be used for WebHelp too; i.e. a CSH call using a value or a topic path.

[phriend_o_phlair]

Hi Dave - We were hoping that establishing these identifiers would mean that we could do away with the paths altogether and thus have flexibility in renaming .htm topics, moving files around in the help directory, et cetera. Does that sound right? Please let me know if I'm missing something.

Also, when I say "manually generate 100's of identifiers," I'm referring to the bookmarks within each topic.

Thanks!

[NorthEast]

Hi Dave - We were hoping that establishing these identifiers would mean that we could do away with the paths altogether and thus have flexibility in renaming .htm topics, moving files around in the help directory, et cetera. Does that sound right? Please let me know if I'm missing something. :wink:

Also, when I say "manually generate 100's of identifiers," I'm referring to the bookmarks within each topic.

Thanks!

Yes, it will give you a lot more flexibility.

Yes, you will have to create all the identifiers, map them to topics, and change all the links in your application.

If you really think you might go back to CHM from WebHelp, then you'll have to take this into account when you set up the CSH links in the application. When you set up identifiers, each one has a name (alphanumeric string) and a value (integer). Whilst a CSH link to WebHelp can use either the name or the value, a link to CHM files can only use the value. That means you can't just use the identifier name when you set up CSH links in your application; you'll either need to use the value (which will work with both), or use the name (for WebHelp) and the value (for CHM).

[phriend_o_phlair]

Great, thanks for the info!

[phriend_o_phlair]

I'm replying to this to bump it to the top... before I create 1800 identifiers manually. Has anyone found a workaround for this? Holding out hope...

[phriend_o_phlair]

Feature request in for this "generate identifiers for topic bookmarks" functionality.