If you import an entire folder tree from your hard drive to the HelpServer Workbench the import procedure will recreate the tree in the Workbench.

The files in the folder tree are represented by HelpServer topics. The file’s content is loaded separately and the topic just includes a link to that file object.

If you are working in a project, then the files are added to the gallery and they can be reused (re-inserted) in other topics.

The folder and its dependent folders are represented by HelpServer folders.

If you import in a generic HelpServer folder or a project then by default the imported folder will become a ‘Book’ folder, the dependants will become ‘Chapter’ folders and the files will become generic ‘Topics’. But this behavior can be changed.

If you import in a folder that is based one of your own defined classes (like in our Encyclopedia example above) then:

Take your class structure into account and make sure your folder classes are equipped with dependent topic classes and folder classes.

If multiple topic classes and/or folder classes occur in a folder class then it is recommended to assign defaults.

If you import a folder or a file from the same location (path and filename) a second time, then new instances of the folder and its files are added to the HelpServer database. And new file instances are added to the project gallery.

Removing a file on your hard drive after import doesn’t affect the content in HelpServer.

Since all HelpServer objects refer to files by means of a link a file’s content is immediately active after it has been reloaded.