How to Import a RoboHelp Project to HelpSmith

What would be the best method for exporting a RoboHelp project to HelpSmith while preserving the table of contents (TOC) hierarchy and CSS styles?

Using the HelpSmith's Import Feature

You can use HelpSmith's Import feature (File|Import) to import documentation generated with RoboHelp from one of the formats, such as .CHM file, HTML, .DOCX, Markdown, etc.

Please note that HelpSmith's built-in word processor is not an HTML editor. Therefore, the Import feature works more like a convertor allowing you to import content from HTML/CSS and other formats.

In many cases, imported content may require some adjustment to its formatting, styles, templates, etc. To help with this, HelpSmith provides several options that can make the import process easier.

Usually, we recommend trying different import options to determine which ones will work best in your specific case.

Importing the Table of Contents (TOC) hierarchy

Currently, HelpSmith does not have an option to import the TOC hierarchy from a RoboHelp project directly. Therefore, I would suggest that you try to import the TOC and content from a .CHM file generated with RoboHelp.

If you import from other formats, you may need to re-create the TOC hierarchy manually. The HelpSmith's Project Manager allows you to drag-n-drop TOC items to quickly move multiple topics into the desired heading TOC item, etc.

Importing original styles or replacing them with HelpSmith's styles

You can import content with the original formatting styles. However, HelpSmith also allows you to replace the original styles with the styles used in the HelpSmith's project. Thus, the imported content will be linked to the standard set of styles (e.g. Normal, Headings, Hyperlink, Table, etc.) which you can modify through the Styles pane (View tab|Styles) in HelpSmith.

For example:

If you need to preserve original styles and formatting, you can uncheck all the options on the Styles tab in the Import Settings window.

However, sometimes it makes sense to use the following settings:

• Clear original styles.
• Apply styles of the destination project.

This mode will reset the initial formatting, but you will be able to setup/restore styles (font, paragraph spacings, etc.) on the HelpSmith's Styles pane (View tab|Styles).

You can use the "replace styles" possibility to import topics both into a new help project or into an existing one. If you are importing into a new project, you don't need to manually edit the text formatting for each topic. If you import into an existing project, the option allows you to automatically adjust the formatting of the imported content to match the project's current styles.

Remark: By default, the HelpSmith's Styles pane displays only user-defined, but hides auto-created styles. To show all the styles, disable (uncheck) the option Show user styles only available at:
File tab|Options|Styles section