Auto-Generating a Browse Sequence

You can easily create a browse sequence manually, adding books, as well as links to topics, other browse sequences, and external files, in any kind of structure you want. Another option is to create a browse sequence automatically. This method is based on the heading levels in your topics (h1 through h6). When you create browse sequence automatically, you will use some of the same steps that you used when creating a browse sequence manually; you still add topic entries to a browse sequence manually. The difference is that the automatic method lets you automatically create sub-entries in a browse sequence for the subheadings in your topics.

Which method should you choose (a manual browse sequence or an automatic browse sequence)? There are advantages to both methods. Plus, you can use both methods if you want. You can start by using the automatic method and then supplementing the TOC manually.

The advantage of creating a browse sequence manually is that you have more flexibility in the way to structure a browse sequence. In addition, you can include more than just topics and books when creating a browse sequence manually. For example, you can include links to other browse sequences.

The advantage of automatic method is that it can be faster.

How to Create a Browse Sequence Automatically

1. Make sure your topics include headings with the h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, or h6 styles.
2. Create at least part of a browse sequence manually.
3. Double-click a browse sequence entry for which you want to auto-create sub-entries. The Properties dialog opens.
4. Select the Auto-generate tab.
5. Select the check box Compute sub-entries from linked file.
6. In the Action field, select either Insert Computed Entries or Replace with Computed Entries. "Insert Computed Entries" will add the browse sequence sub-entries below the one you selected. "Replace with Computed Entries" will remove the browse sequence entry that you selected, replacing it with the sub-entries based on the h1 through h6 styles in the topic.

7. In the Depth field, click the down arrow and select a number from the list to specify how many levels of headings you want to include in the auto-generation.

   Example If you select 3, Flare will create browse sequence sub-entries for all h1, h2, and h3 headings in the topic.

8. Click OK.
9. Click to save your work.

What’s Next?

After you create a browse sequence, you need to enable browse sequences in the skin you want to use for the target. See Enabling Browse Sequences in Skins.