Defining Context-Sensitive Help Links
Context-sensitive help links provide content based on the context of what the user is doing. In many cases, this help content is based on the window that is open and active. For example, the Help button on a window in a software product can open a specific help topic that provides important information about the window:
  • What the window allows you to do
  • Brief concepts needed to understand the window
  • Guidance for how to use the window
  • Descriptions about each field on the window, valid values, and related fields
  • Links to related topics, such as concepts and tasks related to the window
The help topic can also be embedded in the window itself, such as an HTML pane that displays the content of the help topic. Providing this content when and where the user needs it, without requiring the user to search through the help, keeps the user productive and focused. This type of help also makes the product more intuitive by providing answers when and where needed.
There are several methods for creating context-sensitive help. In addition, output formats use different mechanisms to support context-sensitive help. You can reference a topic in the following ways:
File name
Use a Filename marker to assign a file name to a topic. Each topic can have no more than one Filename marker by default. However, you can create a custom mapping mechanism using file names. Then, you can open the specific topic with that file name. However, if your file naming changes, you need to change the link to the topic. This file naming approach delivers context-sensitive help capabilities in output formats that do not provide a mapping mechanism.
Internal identifier (topic alias)
Use a TopicAlias marker to define an internal identifier for each topic. The benefit of using an internal identifier is that it allows file names to change without impacting the links from the product. The writer inserts this marker in a topic and specifies a unique value for that topic. Then, the mapping mechanism of your output format determines how that internal identifier is supported. Some output formats, such as HTML Help, use a mapping file that defines these topic aliases. You can create more than one TopicAlias marker in a topic to allow multiple context-sensitive links to display the same topic.
To simplify the coding of your source documents, you can use the same marker to define both the file name and the topic alias for each topic file. In Style Designer, set the Marker type option for the marker you want to use to Filename and topic alias.
For more information about using markers to enable context-sensitive help links, see the following topics:
For more output format-specific information about using and customizing context-sensitive help, see the following topics:
  • Using Context-Sensitive Help in WebWorks Help
  • Using Context-Sensitive Help in HTML Help
  • Using Context-Sensitive Help in Oracle Help and Sun JavaHelp
  • Using Context-Sensitive Help in WebWorks Reverb
  • Using Context-Sensitive Help in WebWorks Reverb 2.0
Defining Filename Markers for Context-Sensitive Help Links
To enable context-sensitive help links using file names, you need to enable the Filename marker. By default, ePublisher sets the Marker type option for a marker named Filename to Filename. You can create a marker with a different name and set the Marker type option for that marker to Filename.
Then, writers can use this marker in the source documents to define a file name for each topic that will be opened by the application. File names must follow these guidelines:
  • Must be unique
  • Can only contain characters valid for file names
To assign file name behavior to file name markers
  1. Open your Stationery design project.
  2. On the View menu, click Style Designer.
  3. In Marker Styles, select the marker style you want to modify.
  4. On the Options tab, set Marker type to Filename.
Defining TopicAlias Markers for Context-Sensitive Help Links
To enable context-sensitive help links using topic IDs, you need to enable the TopicAlias marker. By default, ePublisher sets the Marker type option for a marker named TopicAlias to Topic alias. You can create a marker with a different name and set the Marker type option for that marker to Topic alias.
Then, writers can use this marker in the source documents to define a topic ID in each topic that will be opened by the application. Topic IDs must follow these guidelines:
  • Must be unique
  • Must begin with an alphabetical character
  • May contain alphanumeric characters
  • May not contain special characters or spaces, with the exception of underscores (_)
To assign topic alias behavior to topic alias markers
  1. Open your Stationery design project.
  2. On the View menu, click Style Designer.
  3. In Marker Styles, select the marker style you want to modify.
  4. On the Options tab, set Marker type to Topic alias.
To avoid duplicate topic Alias markers in Word, follow these steps:
  1. Always insert topic alias markers at the end of Word headings, never at the start or middle.
  2. When you edit the headings, always display hidden text. Otherwise, you might inadvertently move a topic alias to the middle of the heading, causing problems.
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Last modified date: 01/28/2026