How Can I Distinguish The Difference Between Lots Of Topics With The Same Name?

I have a large number of topics with the same (or very similar) names. Is there a good way of managing these? Trying to distinguish between them is very difficult.

Answer

This can be easily overcome by appending a more detailed name to the description.

When you originally "name" and save a topic, the name is also used as the Heading on the Document, Windows Help and HTML tabs. Try saving the topic, then adding a more descriptive name on the General tab. The Heading that appears on the other tabs of the Topic (and therefore in the published outputs) doesn't change automatically.

Follow these steps:

1. Create new topic and name it (eg. Overview)on the General tab as normal.

2. Click Apply to save your changes

3. Amend the Description on the General tab as desired (eg. "Overview - User Permissions").

If you look at the Document, WinHelp or HTML tabs, you will notice that the Description remains "Overview" but under the Book Contents it has been amended (eg. "Overview - User Permissions").

Author-it does not get confused with duplicate names - this is because it uses object numbers

You can also create your own folders in the Library window, which also makes things more manageable.