Generate a source structure from a roadmap

ArticleFlow can convert an approved Excel roadmap into a local folder hierarchy with empty HTML files. This prepares the source structure so content developers can focus on adding article content before import.

Workbook requirements

• Use an .xlsx workbook.
• Include a worksheet named Roadmap.
• Put the product root name in cell A1.
• Include Page Description and Source Material columns.
• Follow the approved L1 and L2 topic names and numbering.
• Use indentation in Page Description cells to define parent-child relationships.
• Use bold text when a roadmap entry must create a folder.

How entries are interpreted

Roadmap entry	Generated result
Bold entry	Folder
Entry with child rows	Folder
Entry without source material	Folder
Entry with source material	HTML article
Folder entry with source material	Folder plus a same-named HTML article inside it

The legacy Home topic and its descendants are ignored.

Generate the structure

1. Open ArticleFlow.
2. Select Roadmap.
3. Choose the approved .xlsx workbook.
4. Choose the parent location where the new local product folder should be created.
5. Wait for ArticleFlow to generate and open the folder.
6. Review the generated hierarchy before adding content.

ArticleFlow stops before writing when it detects an unsupported canonical topic, duplicate output path, missing required column, or an existing destination folder with the same root name.

Add article content

Generated .htm files are intentionally empty. Open each file in the team's normal content-editing workflow and add the approved HTML. Do not rename generated canonical folders unless the intended eGain taxonomy also needs to change.

When content is ready, return to ArticleFlow, choose the generated product root with Choose folder, and follow the standard ArticleFlow import workflow.