make a topic show only one of many content bits?

[pdenchfield]

I saw a demo of an online help system (probably WebHelp) in which a topic included several radio button links. Each link was for a procedure. For example, the "Edit documents" topic might include the following radio button links:

() Edit a single document
() Edit multiple documents (batch)
() Delete documents

When you click a radio button link, only the related procedure appears, below the list of links. If you then click another link, only that procedure shows up, below the list of links.

This is not a drop-down or expanding text function. I have combed the Flare Help but cannot find a way to make only the most recently clicked procedure appear while retaining the list of links above.

How can I create this kind of Help deliverable using Flare?

[doc_guy]

Was the online demo created with Flare?

The only way I know of for doing this would be to write some type of script (javascript or php or something) that would include an action to show or hide divs based on which radio box was selected. I don't know of any tool that has that functionality built-in.

[pdenchfield]

Thanks for the reply, Paul. I'm pretty sure the demo was not created with Flare. I suspect you're right that scripts and divs would be required.

[LTinker68]

When you click a radio button link, only the related procedure appears, below the list of links. If you then click another link, only that procedure shows up, below the list of links.

You can't do exactly what you're describing with Flare, but you can get close with togglers. Unfortunately, togglers don't automatically close/hide other togglers, although several of us have submitted feature requests for that. Make sure to add your voice by submitting a feature request at http://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx.

What you want to do is similar to what you can do in Dreamweaver by hiding/showing "layers" (<div> tags). If you have Dreamweaver then you could construct the framework of the effect and then copy-and-paste the code into the topic page in Flare. I haven't tested this extensively, but it should work. And the framework you set up in Dreamweaver can have it show a "layer" and hide all other "layers". You'd just have to set that up for each link.

[pdenchfield]

Thanks, LTinker68! Good information. Dreamweaver is not available for this project. I have submitted an enhancement request as you suggested.

[dwag]

If I had to set up something like what you're describing, I'd create four topics: Topic 1, Topic 2, Topic 3 and Topic 4. In the Editor, I'd give each topic the same title and copy the 3 radio-button items to each topic. Below the items in Topic 2, I'd write the list related to radio button 1; below the items in Topic 3, the list related to radio button 2; below the items in Topic 4, the list related to radio button 3.

Then in Topic 1, I'd link the first radio button to Topic 2, the second to Topic 3 and the third to Topic 4; in Topic 2, the second radio button to Topic 3 and the third to Topic 4; in Topic 3, the first radio button to Topic 2, etc.

Finally, I'd only drag Topic 1 to the TOC.

Rather labor intensive, I know, but the end result might be worth it.

ps: of course, if your list is located a ways down the page, you might need to employ bookmarks or, if possible, move the list to the top of the page.

[pdenchfield]

I may just try that. Thank you!

[dwag]

No sweat ... well, maybe a little.

[LTinker68]

Well, if you feel gutsy, I documented how to incorporate Dreamweaver's show/hide feature into Flare. It's a bit complicated, but it does work. The instructions are at http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... =12&t=6829.