How to re-use topics from another help project? (Creating a library of shared topics)

You can use the Project Merge feature (File|Merge) to import topics from another help project file (.HSM).

Please note that Project Merge allows you to import topics by using different modes:

• Add as New
• Replace by Context

For example, you can use the "Replace by Context" mode when you need to update an existing topic in the current help project by importing it from the "library" help project.

For more details, you can visit:

https://www.helpsmith.com/webhelp/topics/using-project-merge.htm

When you create a library help project with shared topics, it is recommended to allocate a special range of Context values.

For example:

In the library help project, you can assign topics' Context identifiers starting from a big value like 5000.

This approach will help you:

• Avoid possible collisions between Context values when importing topics from one help project to another project.
• Make it easier to update topics in the current help project by re-importing them from the library help project using the "Replace by Context" mode.