Double-clicking topic checks it out and does not open

Question

Hi all,
I'm experiencing a strange, vexing problem with both of our source-controlled help projects that no one else on my team is experiencing. This appears to be a problem with my computer/installation of RoboHelp.
Today, I went into our help projects for the first time in a couple of days, and when I double-clicked any topic, it automatically checked it out of VSS but did not open it. It also checked out the CSS file, template (master page) file, and any graphic files associated with the topic.
Normally, when I double-click a topic, the topic opens, and it only checks it out of VSS if I start typing in the topic. It does not check out the CSS, master page file, or graphic files unless I make changes to those files.
Like I said, no one else is experiencing this problem. We all have the same system versions (see below). It appears to be only me, and it's happening with both of our help projects. To my knowledge, I did not do anything to my computer or its application settings to cause this. Has anyone experienced a problem like this? If so, what can I do to fix it? Any other ideas?
My system information:
RoboHelp HTML version 8.0.2.208
Output type: WebHelp
Source control: Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 8.0.50727.42
Thank you in advance for any assistance,
Lisa

Answer 1

Hi Lisa
That actually makes total logical sense to me. Here's why.
Each PC running the Microsoft Windows operating system has a database we all know as the Registry. Inside that registry are entries that govern the behavior of Windows. Consider the Registry to be similar to DNA. The DNA is different for every human, right? The same really holds true with Windows. Some might argue that this cannot be, because if you had the same setup it would be the same. But each copy of Windows has a different user and more specifically, a different serial number.
Okay, in this registry database is an area known as file associations. So Windows keeps track of which applications should open when files are double-clicked.
RoboHelp has a similar feature that is governed from the dialog you were in. But it also works in concert with Windows. So who really knows why sometimes it does the things it does. I understand that RoboHelp determines the editor by meta tags found in the HTML of the topics.
I do know that as part of any RoboHelp training class I facilitate, I regularly lead folks to this area and configure to the "Use Default" as an early step. I do this because if you import a Word document into the project and you leave Auto-select enabled, Word opens when you attempt to double click topics in the RoboHelp editor.
Happy to have been of some small help... Rick
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