Using the Conditional Build Tags feature in RoboHelp HTML 6

Deciding what to do first

Deciding what to do first is a bit like deciding which came first: the chicken or the egg? Without a chicken to first lay the egg, you have no egg from which a chicken hatches. Likewise, chickens must hatch from eggs. And on it goes. When you create a shiny new project in RoboHelp HTML, two tags are normally created for you. The names are "Online" and "Print." While conditional tags can certainly be created before you begin adding content within RoboHelp HTML, the more common way is to add one or more of them at some point after the project has been created. Normally, the first step is to have content, and then decide what content you need to make conditional. Consider the sample project in this article. It begins as a simple help file to discuss the features of a fictitious new truck. At this stage, there is absolutely no need for any build tag–related content; you are simply creating help pages that describe different truck features. Then along comes your boss, who has decided that this truck will also be marketed in the United Kingdom (UK). Your boss then asks you to customize your documentation to reflect as many of the nuances of each language as possible.

Here are a few things to consider:

• In the United States (US), we spell the word color, while our United Kingdom (UK) counterparts refer to it as colour.
• In the US, we know the vehicle as a truck. In the UK, it is referred to as a lorry.
• In the US, the front part of the truck where it opens to expose the engine is known as a hood. In the UK, it is known as a bonnet.
• In the US, we acquire a license in order to operate a motor vehicle. In the UK, it is referred to as a licence.
• In the US, the steering wheel is located on the left side of the vehicle. In the UK, it is found on the right.
• In the US, the fuel used is often gasoline. In the UK, it is called petrol.

Page 3 of 6

Previous Page

Next Page