RoboHelp 2019 - The Skin Editor

The skin editor now allows changes to all skins.

There is also a change in terminology.

• Previously, for Responsive HTML5 help, the design was referred to as the layout. There were also problems when the functionality needed to be changed that resulted in the loss of customisation.
• Now "layout" will refer to the structure and "skin" will refer to the appearance.

The changes mean the terminology for both outputs is now the same and Adobe can change the underpinning code of the layout without any loss of customisation.

Click Output > Output Settings and then click Skins. When you select what you want to edit, a preview will display on the right along with the Skin Components you can customise. As you click each component, its properties will be displayed on the left of the preview for editing.

Because the Logo setting has focus, the preview on the right has a red square showing what will be affected by any changes made.

Customised Skins

When you upgrade from a Classic version of RoboHelp, the Indigo skin will include any customisation provided it was customised using the Classic skin editor. Editing done outside the Classic skin editor will not get upgraded.

 Customisation of other skins will need to be reapplied in RoboHelp 2019.

If your skin has been customised outside the RoboHelp Classic skin editor in an earlier version, you can go to the RoboHelp 2019 Layout tab in Skin Components to add custom Javascript and CSS files.

Duplicate Skins

You might want to make some changes to a skin either because corporate branding is about to change or you just feel that some tweaks are needed. You don't want to play with the current skin though until the new one is ready. Simply create a duplicate and work on that.

When the changes are complete, if required you can export the layout to other projects.

Both options are in the context menu.

Frameless Skins

Whilst the editor for frameless skins works in a similar way to other skins, there are differences as well as significantly more options. See Frameless Outputs for the details.

508 Compliance

With Update 6 applied, the Azure Blue, Indigo and Charcoal Grey skins are 508 compliant. The Red Green and Coffee skins are not yet 508 compliant.

There are two elements to what is generally referred to as a "skin". The layout, which is the underlying structure and functionality, and the skin, the appearance.

• If your project was created after applying Update 6, the supplied Azure Blue, Indigo and Charcoal Grey skins and their underlying layouts are 508 compliant.
• If your project was created before Update 6 or is a project upgraded from any Classic version of RoboHelp and 508 compliance is required, the safest option is to select the required skin afresh.

If in doubt, it is recommended that you select a skin after applying Update 6.
Go to Output > Skins and click the + icon and select the required skin. You will then be able to select that skin in Output Presets > Layout > Skin
OR
In Output Presets > Layout > Skin click the browse icon and select the required skin.
If the project already has a skin with the same name, it will be necessary to use a slightly different name to differentiate it, perhaps just append "508_Compliant".

 

Customisation and 508 Compliance
It is only the supplied layout and skin that are 508 compliant. If you apply any customisation to the skin, then you must ensure that too is compliant. Your customisation could break that if, for example, you define colours that do not have the necessary contrast. You must also ensure that your content is 508 compliant.