Home > Managing Topics > Modifying a Topic

Modifying a Topic

Modifying an existing Topic includes the following tasks:

- Managing the list of terms:
  - Filtering the list
  - Adding additional terms
  - Modifying existing terms
  - Deleting existing terms
  - Viewing and restoring deleted terms
  - Changing the keyword selection
- Changing the properties of the Topic
- Moving the Topic to a different folder

## Managing the List of Terms

In order to manage the list of terms in a Topic, you must open the Topic in the right panel.

To open a Topic:

1. In the left panel, click the Topic Manager tab. The list of existing Topics is displayed in the tree structure.
2. Double-click the Topic, or select the Topic and then click (Open Topic). If the Topic is linked to one or more Programs, a Topic Edit message appears, prompting you to confirm that you want to open the Topic.

   Topic Edit message

3. In the Topic Edit message, click Yes. The Topic opens in a tab in the right panel, and the list of terms it contains is displayed.

> Open Topic

### Filtering the List of Terms

You can filter the display of terms so that only terms that include a specified text string are visible in the list. For example, if you only want to see terms that include the word "reduce" in any of its forms, you can limit the display to terms that include the string "reduc." Terms that include "reduce," "reduces," "reduced," and "reduction" will be displayed; all other terms will be hidden from view.

To specify a text string to use as a filter:

- To the right of the list, under Filter, type the text string. The list is filtered as you type.

To clear the filter:

- To the right of the list, click Clear.

### Adding Terms

Adding additional terms can be done as explained under Defining a New Topic.

### Modifying Existing Terms

You can change the text of any term in the list. In addition, you can modify the Strictness of a term (see Customizing the Strictness of a Term).

To modify a term:

1. In the term list, select the term. The term appears in the Term field above the list, and the New button to the right of the field becomes an Update button..
2. In the Term field, modify the term as required.
3. Click Update. The term is updated in the list

To modify the Strictness value of a term:

1. In the term list, select the term, and then click the Set Strictness () button. The Term Strictness dialog box opens.
2. To use the default Strictness value for the Topic, select Topic Strictness. To set a custom value, select Custom, and then modify the value as required.
3. Click OK. The Strictness value is modified.

### Deleting Terms

You can delete any term from the list. Deleted terms are not sought in calls, but they are nevertheless stored in SMART's database. You can view and restore them later, if necessary (see below).

To delete terms:

1. In the term list, select the terms. To delete multiple terms, hold down the Ctrl key and click each term.
2. To the left of the list, click (Delete). The selected terms are deleted.

### Displaying and Restoring Deleted Terms

You can include all the previously deleted terms in the list, and you can restore selected terms.

To include deleted terms in the list:

1. To the right of the list, select Show Deleted. All previously deleted terms are added to the display. A icon appears beside each deleted term.
2. Select the deleted terms you want to restore. To select multiple terms, hold down the Ctrl key and click each term.

   List including deleted terms, with the first deleted term selected

3. To the left of the list, click (Restore). The selected terms are restored.

### Changing the Keyword Selection

You can cancel the selection of a keyword. When you do, the marking of every instance of the keyword is removed. (The words are not removed from the terms.)

To cancel the selection of a keyword:

1. Select the keyword in one of the terms. The Mark Important button becomes an Unmark Important button.
2. Click the Unmark Important button. The Mark Important designation is removed from every instance of the selected word.

## Saving Changes

Whenever you modify a Topic, you must save the changes in order for them to be implemented in SMART. For additional information about saving changes in SMART and implementing them in SpeechMiner, see Saving and Applying Changes.

To save changes to the Topic:

- To the upper-left of the right panel, click (Save).

## Modifying Topic Properties

Most of the Topic properties are set automatically by the system and cannot be changed by users, but you can change the folder, name, description, and Strictness of a Topic.

To modify Topic properties:

1. In the left panel, click the Topic Manager tab. The list of existing Topics is displayed in the tree structure.
2. Right-click the Topic, and then select Open Topic Properties. If the Topic is linked to one or more Programs, a Topic Edit message appears, prompting you to confirm that you want to open the Topic properties.

   Topic Edit message

3. In the Topic Edit message, click Yes. The Topic Properties dialog box opens.

   Topic Properties dialog box

4. Modify the properties as necessary. (For information about these properties, see Opening a Blank Topic.)
5. Click OK. The dialog box closes, and the properties are modified.

## Moving a Topic to a Different Folder

You can move a Topic to a different folder at any time, either by changing its Folder in the Topic Properties, as described above, or by dragging the Topic to another folder in the tree list (see Organizing Items Hierarchically).

See also

Creating an Effective Topic
Overview of the Topic-Manager Interface
Defining a New Topic
Auditing a Topic
Managing Secured Topics
Deleting Topics