Tip: How to make a Table Of Contents (TOC) For Article Template

Hello,

Thanks for sharing. I did a similar thing using the following code:

- in script.js:

!function(a){"use strict";var b=function(b){return this.each(function(){var c,d,e=a(this),f=e.data(),g=[e],h=this.tagName,i=0;c=a.extend({content:"body",headings:"h1,h2,h3"},{content:f.toc||void 0,headings:f.tocHeadings||void 0},b),d=c.headings.split(","),a(c.content).find(c.headings).attr("id",function(b,c){var d=function(a){0===a.length&&(a="?");for(var b=a.replace(/\s+/g,"_"),c="",d=1;null!==document.getElementById(b+c);)c="_"+d++;return b+c};return c||d(a(this).text())}).each(function(){var b=a(this),c=a.map(d,function(a,c){return b.is(a)?c:void 0})[0];if(c>i){var e=g[0].children("li:last")[0];e&&g.unshift(a("<"+h+"/>").appendTo(e))}else g.splice(0,Math.min(i-c,Math.max(g.length-1,0)));a("<li/>").appendTo(g[0]).append(a("<a/>").text(b.text()).attr("href","#"+b.attr("id"))),i=c})})},c=a.fn.toc;a.fn.toc=b,a.fn.toc.noConflict=function(){return a.fn.toc=c,this},a(function(){b.call(a("[data-toc]"))})}(window.jQuery);
  if ($("#toc").length>0){
    $("#toc").toc({content:"div.article-body"});
  }

- in style.css:

.toc-list ul, .toc-list ol {
  list-style-type: revert;
}
.toc-list ul li, .toc-list ol li {
  margin: 0px 0 0px 10px;
}
.toc-list ul li a {
  border-radius: 4px;
  color: $text_color;
  display: block;
  font-weight: 300;
  padding-left: 10px;
  /*margin-bottom: 10px;*/
}

.toc-list ul li a:hover {
  background-color: $brand_color;
  color: $brand_text_color;
  text-decoration: none;
}

- in article_page.hbs:

{{#each article.labels}}
      	{{#is identifier "show_toc"}}
          <section class="toc-list">
            <strong>{{dc 'in_this_article'}}</strong>
            <ul id="toc"></ul>
          </section>
      	{{/is}}
    {{/each}}

I found this last part great because it actually triggers the TOC section on articles ONLY if I had the show_toc label in the article, which is a customization I wanted.

Thanks I think you read this one also to add the title above TOC list items:

https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/1500000064241-Using-Section-Headings-to-create-a-Table-of-Contents

Ifra Saqlain the screen shots for steps 2 and 3 are identical. Is that intentional?

Hello Mark, thanks to ping, that's not intentionally, there should have been the  document_head template screenshot.

Thanks, Ifra Saqlain! Got the dynamic TOC working with the jQuery plugins.  

One question: I added an "In this article" heading. I modified the Javascript snippet to only pull <h2> headings. Is there a way to hide the "In this article" heading if there are no <h2> headings in the article?

 <section class="article-info">
        <div class="article-content">
          <div class="article-body"><h3> In this article:</h3><ul  id="toc"></ul>{{article.body}}</div>
          {{#if attachments}}
            <div class="article-attachments">
              <ul class="attachments">
                {{#each attachments}}
                  <li class="attachment-item">
                    <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" focusable="false" viewBox="0 0 16 16" class="attachment-icon">
                      <path fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" d="M9.5 4v7.7c0 .8-.7 1.5-1.5 1.5s-1.5-.7-1.5-1.5V3C6.5 1.6 7.6.5 9 .5s2.5 1.1 2.5 2.5v9c0 1.9-1.6 3.5-3.5 3.5S4.5 13.9 4.5 12V4"/>

Hello Mark, you can add a class-name in your h3 heading tag: toc-title, and check the length of li in th ul, then hide the toc-title.

Solution:

1). Add class-name in h3.

2). Check the li length in the ul.

3). Now test your TOC and if any issue please do let me know :)

Thanks

Thank you for the solution. Works fine. 

I'm trying set TOC as transparent callout.

Add this code:

     <div class="article__body" itemprop="articleBody">
                <div class="callout callout--transparent">
                              <h5 class="toc-title">IN this article:</h5>
                                  <ul id="toc"></ul>
                                </div>
            {{article.body}}
          </div>

and

$(document).ready(function(){
      $("#toc").toc({content: ".article__body", headings: "h1,h2,h3,h4"});
  
  if($("ul#toc").has("li").length === 0){
     $('.toc-title').hide();
    $('.callout callout--transparent').hide();
     }
})

If there is no heading in article TOC is hide, but borders of this callout are still there. What should I do? 

hii, because you forgot to add a dot for the class in your script code:

Your code:

$(document).ready(function(){
      $("#toc").toc({content: ".article__body", headings: "h1,h2,h3,h4"});
  
  if($("ul#toc").has("li").length === 0){
     $('.toc-title').hide();
    $('.callout callout--transparent').hide();  // hasn't dot for the class
     }
})

Fixed: Apply this.

$(document).ready(function(){
      $("#toc").toc({content: ".article__body", headings: "h1,h2,h3,h4"});
  
  if($("ul#toc").has("li").length === 0){
     $('.toc-title').hide();
    $('.callout.callout--transparent').hide();
     }
})

Indeed. Thank you. And the last question:

how can I change:

if($("ul#toc").has("li").length === 0){

to hide TOC if article has less than 2 headings? 

hey Jakub :)

Use this script code for your query:

to hide TOC if article has less than 2 headings? 

$(document).ready(function(){
      $("#toc").toc({content: ".article__body", headings: "h1,h2,h3,h4"});
    $('.callout.callout--transparent').hide();
  if($("ul#toc li").length >= 2){
    $('.callout.callout--transparent').show();
     }
})

Many thanks!

Really appreciate your help :)

Hello,

TOC works nice except for one thing - I am wondering is this happens only in my HC? 
Clicking on the link takes you to the specific header, but a few lines below not to head of section. 
For example - click on 3rd link from TOC: http://gmsystem.zendesk.com/hc/pl/articles/4417171125905-Jak-wypożyczyć-licencję-Solid-Edge- 
As you can see it takes you to proper section but first lines are hidden behind header.
How can I fix that? 

Hello Jakub Kręcisz, it is cause of your sticky header, the header is hiding those few lines.

See the below screenshot:

Your sticky header:

When I removed position: fixed from the CSS:

Solution:

You can fix this issue by adding the given code at the end of your script file inside the DOM function

$(window).scroll(function(){
    if ($(this).scrollTop() > 50) {
       $('main').css({"margin-top": "125px"});
    } else {
       $('main').css({"margin-top": "0"});
    }
});
  


Screenshot for the same:








Add the Jquery CDN on document_head.hbs file.

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.5.1/jquery.min.js"></script>


Screenshot for the same:

Thanks

Team

Also, click on the given link :)

http://ifrasaqlain.com/introduction/

Thank you! I did as you wrote.

Is this possible to limit this only for article page?

I would like to minimalize jump effect on other pages, i.e. main page where row with blocks is shifted with specific pixels amount:

position"0":

position"scrolled down":

Add template name on article page.

Update the previous script code:

$(document).ready(function(){
  if(tempName === "article-template") {
      $(window).scroll(function(){
    if ($(this).scrollTop() > 50) {
       $('main').css({"margin-top": "125px"});
    } else {
       $('main').css({"margin-top": "0"});
    }
 });
 }
});

Ifra,

really, really appreciate your help - thank you so much! 

:)

This is nothing short of amazing. Thank you so much Ifra Saqlain for this guide!

:)

I did these but it doesn't work: https://support.heroesempires.com/hc/en-us/articles/5260022672665

No TC shows.

And please post the code, don't post the screenshot :)

Anh Le, I think you didn't add jquery.toc.min file to your head file.

Error:

Solution:

First you need to download the plugin.

and then unzip that,

you will get jquery.toc.min

upload it to your HC assets folder.

import it to your document_head.hbs file.

Your issue would be solved :)

Thanks

Of course, I did.

Ifra Saqlain

Anh Le :), do the following:

i). Go to your document_head.hbs file.

ii). Update the sequence of CDNs.

iii). Currently, your TOC CDN is above jQuery-v3.5.1, it should be below this version of jQuery or you can move your jQuery-v3.5.1 CDN ust below the jQuery-v3.6.0.

Currently:

After updating:

iv). Second thing is, you don't have the class name article-body.

You'll need to add class name with the markdown.

OR,

you can change the class name in the script code.

Now, test and let me know.

Thank you Ifra Saqlain the theme developer loaded the js file end of that file. I removed it and it works.

However, the format is ugly; any suggestions? https://support.heroesempires.com/hc/en-us/articles/5260022672665-Tutorials

Btw, do you plan to have the native TOC for Zendesk article?

Hi Anh Le :),

move the script files to the footer.hbs file and css files keep into document-head file.

script (JS) files to the footer file.

CSS files to the document file.

and then test, are all the functions working fine as previous or not?

And,

Btw, do you plan to have the native TOC for Zendesk article?

You can post this question in the Guide Feedback. I'm only a moderator so can't tell about the roadmaps :)

Thanks

Ifra Saqlain I don't get it. What are the new code for? Can't you share the code instead of taking the screenshot and make me retype those codes?

Anh Le,

I answered your query

However, the format is ugly; any suggestions? https://support.heroesempires.com/hc/en-us/articles/5260022672665-Tutorials

Move script files document_head.hbs file to footer.hbs file.

Move your script files to the footer.hbs file.

script file: <script src="..."></script>

Template name: footer.hbs

And, keep your CSS files to document_head.hbs file as it is.

CSS files: <link href="..."  rel="stylesheet"  type="css/text" />

Template Name: document_head.hbs

I moved these codes from document_head.hbs to footer.hbs:

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.6.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="{{asset 'jquery.toc.min.js'}}"></script>

But nothing changed.

Anh Le, I think you don't need to do anything else, forget about formatting, move our jquery CDN and TOC to the document_head.hbs file as it is. 

See, you didn't move all the script files to the footer file.

You only moved jquery CDN and TOC.

Now the error is:

Okay, move you jQuery and TOC to the document_head.hbs file as it was. Then the final results would be:

Your TOC is showing: