Editing the Style of Glossary Term Links

You can edit the style for glossary term links that you have inserted into a content file (e.g., topic, snippet).

The default behavior for glossary term links in the output depends on whether (A) you have added a glossary definition as simple text or (B) you have pointed to a separate topic in the glossary file. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.

  • If You Have Added a Definition as Simple Text In online output, the default behavior is that the definition displays as a popup when users hover over the glossary term link. In print-based output, the default behavior is that the definition is converted to a footnote.
  • If You Have Pointed to a Separate Topic as the Definition In HTML5 Top Navigation output, the topic definition will open in the same window as the output from which it was launched. In HTML5 Tripane, skinless, and other online output, the topic definition opens in a popup window (like a topic popup). Print-based output does not support glossary term links where a separate topic is used as the definition.
  1. From the Content Explorer, open the stylesheet that you want to modify.

  2. Complete one of the following sets of steps, depending on whether you want to use the Simplified view or Advanced view in the Stylesheet Editor.

    • Simplified The Simplified view displays styles in a grid view and is often best for brand new users.

      This view provides an easy way to apply properties to styles, with format options available from a toolbar and dialogs (similar to the way one would use an interface such as Microsoft Word). In some cases, only the most common property options are available in the Simplified view (e.g., font, letter/word spacing, paragraph alignment/indentation, autonumbering format, borders, background). One advantage of the Simplified view is that you can apply a property to multiple styles at the same time. You can also click a check box to hide the properties in the editor, allowing you to see only the styles.

    • Advanced The Advanced view displays styles in a tree structure, and despite the name, is user friendly for authors of all levels.

      For the properties, you can toggle between a grouped display and an alphabetical display. The Advanced view of the Stylesheet Editor lets you edit more settings than are available in the Simplified view. In addition, the Advanced view lets you see and apply settings to multiple mediums and media queries at the same time.

    3. If Using Simplified View

    1. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the simplified view. (which means that the Simplified view is currently shown in the editor). If the button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the advanced view. instead, then click it.
    2. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the drop-down field and select .
    3. From the grid in the bottom portion of the editor, find and select one of the following styles (or a glossary term style class you may have created within it):
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm This is the primary style affecting the look of glossary term links. All of the other MadCap|glossaryTerm classes listed below inherit the settings that you apply to this style. If you want to change the font color or family, this is the style you would usually modify. If you want to change or remove the icon that displays next to glossary term links, use the Advanced view of the Stylesheet Editor instead.
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm:focus Select this pseudo class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are in a state of having focus in the output. See Pseudo Classes.
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm:hover Select this pseudo class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when users hover over them in the output. See Pseudo Classes.
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm.Expanding Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to expand the definition as inline text in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the expanding style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm.Hyperlink Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to function as hyperlinks in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the hyperlink style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm.Popup Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to open as popups in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the popup style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
    4. In the local toolbar of the editor, click Display properties for the selected item.. The Properties dialog opens.

    5. Use the tabs and fields in the Properties dialog to change values for any of the style's properties. More properties can be set if you use the Advanced view of the Stylesheet Editor instead.

      For more information see Styles and Stylesheets, as well as Editing Styles in a Regular Stylesheet.

    6. In the Properties dialog, click OK.

    If Using Advanced View

    1. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the advanced view.. If the button displays The button to change the stylesheet to the simplified view. instead, then click it.
    2. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the drop-down field and select .
    3. On the left side of the editor, find and select the style called MadCap|glossaryTerm. You can also expand it to select one of the following styles (or a glossary term style class you may have created within it):
      • MadCap|glossaryTerm This is the primary style affecting the look of glossary term links. All of the other MadCap|glossaryTerm classes listed below inherit the settings that you apply to this style. If you want to change the font color or family, this is the style you would usually modify. If you want to change or remove the icon that displays next to glossary term links, use the Advanced view of the Stylesheet Editor instead.
      • Expanding Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to expand the definition as inline text in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the expanding style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
      • Hyperlink Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to function as hyperlinks in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the hyperlink style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
      • Popup Select this class if you want to change the look of glossary term links when they are set to open as popups in the output. You can specify that a glossary term link should use the popup style when you initially create that term and its definition. See Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions.
    4. From the Show drop-down list on the upper-right side of the editor, select Filter using the drop-down to show assorted relevant properties in the stylesheet.. The most relevant properties for that style are shown on the right side of the editor.
    5. (Optional) You can use the toggle button in the local toolbar to show properties below in a group view Stylesheet local toolbar button to show properties in a group view. or an alphabetical view Stylesheet local toolbar button to show properties in an alphabetical view..

    6. Locate the property you want to change.

      Following are some of the more common properties that you might change:

      • color This style, located in the Font property group, lets you select change the font color of glossary term links.
      • mc-closed-image This style, located in the Unclassified property group, lets you select an image to be shown next to the glossary term link effect when it is in a closed state.
      • mc-closed-image-alt-text This style, located in the Unclassified property group, lets you set alternate text for the glossary term link effect when it is in a closed state. See Accessibility.
      • mc-open-image This style, located in the Unclassified property group, lets you select an image to be shown next to the glossary term link effect when it is in an open state.
      • mc-open-image-alt-text This style, located in the Unclassified property group, lets you set alternate text for the glossary term link effect when it is in an open state. See Accessibility.
      • mc-term-display This style, located in the Unclassified property group, lets you specify how glossary term links are displayed (as popups, hyperlinks, or expanding text). When you first create a glossary term and definition (see Creating Glossary Terms and Definitions), you can specify which of these styles is used for glossary term links. The popup display is associated by default with the primary MadCap|glossaryTerm style, as well as with the MadCap|glossaryTermPopup class. The expanding display is associated by default with the MadCap|glossaryTermExpanding class. And the hyperlink display is associated by default with the MadCap|glossaryTermHyperlink class. The most likely case in which you would change the value for the mc-term-display property is if you want most of your glossary term links to open in a display other than popup; in that case, you would usually select the main MadCap|glossaryTerm style and change the mc-term-display to either the expanding or hyperlink value.

    7. The area to the right of the property is used for selecting and entering values. If you know how to enter the information correctly, you can click in the value field and type it directly. Otherwise, click the ellipsis button Display more options. to the right of the property. Depending on the type of property, the appropriate controls and options display, allowing you to choose or enter values (e.g., select from a drop-down list, click a button, complete fields in a dialog or popup). If you completed values in a popup, click OK at the bottom of the box.

      For more information see Styles and Stylesheets, as well as Editing Styles in a Regular Stylesheet.

  3. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

What’s Noteworthy?

Note To edit alternate text for this feature in a specific language, you can modify the language skin. In the Language Skin Editor, select the desired language skin target, then adjust the values for the related AltText property. See Applying Alt Text.