Inserting Spot References

In addition to the context string that identifies the topic, you can also include additional context strings to identify particular locations within the topic. These secondary context strings are called spot references because they reference specific locations, or “spots,” within a topic.

When executing a jump, Windows Help uses the location of the context string as a reference point. Windows Help displays topics with only one context string identifier from the top down, starting with the first line in the topic. If you want users to be able to jump to a specific location within the topic, you can insert a context string at that location. When executing a jump to the spot reference, Windows Help displays the topic as if that location were the “top” of the topic. For example, to create a jump to the middle of a topic, you insert a context string at that location.

Note:

You cannot insert a title footnote in the middle of a topic, so any spot references that you define cannot have a “subtitle.”

To insert a spot reference context string

1.1.Position the insertion point at the location where you want to insert a spot reference.

A context string inserted at the beginning of the topic is used to identify the topic. A context string inserted anywhere else in the topic is treated as a spot reference.

2.2.From the Insert menu, choose Footnote.

The Footnote dialog box appears.

3.3.Type the pound sign as the custom footnote mark, and then choose OK.

A superscript pound sign ( # ) appears in the text window, and the insertion point moves to the footnote window.

4.4.Type the context string to the right of the pound sign in the footnote window.

Use only a single space between the pound sign and the text string. (The context string itself shouldn’t contain any spaces.) For example, you might type the following context string to identify the “Save As Option”topic within the “Saving Files” topic of Cardfile Help:

# saveas_card

Figure 6.5 shows this footnote window.