Create a custom window button

The final step is to create a button on the HTML Help window that opens the user_notes.htm file.

1. In RoboHelp HTML, click the Project tab.

2. Open the Windows folder.

3. Double click the default window for the project.
   In the graphic below, Main is the default window, and Second is used for Context Sensitive Help topics.
   
   If you have not renamed your windows, the default window is named NewWindow.

4. Under Buttons, place a check mark next to Button 1.
   

5. Click Advanced Properties.

6. Under Button 1 Label type: Notes.

7. Under Custom Button 1 URL type user_notes.htm or the path to the HTML file created from the previous exercise.
   

8. Click OK twice and click Compile.
   When the user clicks the Notes button below...
   
   
   ...it launches the user_notes.htm topic, the topic immediate executes the hidden shortcut control, then returns the user to their previous position.

Note: This technique only works on local Help file installations.  CHM files accessed from a network have one big problem: the LOG file is shared, thus users could easily overwrite someone else's notes. If you know of a good workaround for text files on networked CHM files, I would appreciate hearing from you.

That's it for this month's tip!!

Back to the beginning of the tip

Kind Regards,

Rob Magrino
Certified XxxxXxxx Instructor
Certified Technical Trainer
Microsoft Certified Professional