Import CHM files in RoboHelp 9

Product mananger is saying the the CHM file has later information than the HTMs files. Not sure how that could be. Is there any possible way to import CHM File into an existing RoboHelp project file?

See Reverse Engineering on my site. It's quite simple and quicker than it might look at first glance.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

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Adobe Technical Communications Suite - Importing Framemaker Files into Robohelp

We have just started using the Adobe Technical Communications
Suite to import our Framemaker files into Robohelp. (We have about
a year’s experience of taking Framemaker files into Web Works
Publisher, with good results so we were hoping for a similar
experience with Robohelp).
Please can you help us with the following two problems:
1. Importing FM files into Robohelp has posed some immediate
table formatting problems. We imported the FM files by reference
according to the instructions but cannot format the tables, ie.
Colors etc.
2. Can you also tell us if there is a way to set up our
graphics in Framemaker to import into Robohelp without first having
to run them through a batch file scenario to change the size for
online help. Also, can you explain why the imported graphics are
being put into separate folders in Robohelp – is there a
system option where we can stop this from occurring.
We are a little frustrated because we are long-time users of
Robohelp and Framemaker and are finding some of the new features of
TCS are not as helpful as we first thought. I am sending these
questions after spending several hours going through the Robohelp
Help and the Adobe website and not finding the answers.
Thanks for your help,
Asra S.

I have purchased the Technical Communications Suite and am
working with it now. I am finding several short comings in the
product – 60% great product and 40% not so great. I have been
using FrameMaker and RoboHelp for about 11 years and also I am a
Webworks (ePublisher) user. I was expecting (at a minimum) to have
the same functionality as ePublisher in TCS - ePublisher works
seamlessly with FrameMaker. Quadralay worked with me the first
month to answer my questions to ensure I was pleased with the
product - and welcomed/appreciated my feedback. In some cases they
provided me with scripts to accommodate my needs. I am finding on
message boards and forums that a lot of users as very disappointed
with your product so far. Are there any plans on
improving/enhancing the product to accommodate our basic requests?
The standard answer we get concerning graphics and tables is
to use conditional text. This is not single-sourcing and is a
horrible recommended work-around – a hack if you will. We use
conditional text to handle differences in program functionality. I
understand there is some set up required when you create a new
project in RoboHelp, but after that I would like to run the Batch
File process to simply generate my newly updated FM files to online
help. How efficient is that? VERY!
I have provided a list of the basic missing
functionality/oversights that would greatly improve the product and
satisfy a lot of your current users. Some of these issues may be
user misunderstanding and in that case I seek guidance on what
I’m doing wrong. Take the other issues into consideration
because these are not just my issues, but a TON of your users.
Hopefully you are user focused and are as concerned as we are.
Please welcome this feedback as a way to improve the product.
- No Breadcrumbs supported with MS HTML Help - supported in
your other outputs and is available in ePublisher, so it must be
possible.
- Table formats are not configurable – why? Sometimes
the converted table format from FM isn’t 100%.
- Imported file structure (folder for each chapter) totally
hoses my fix to poor graphic rendering. Currently I use a batch
file to run a Photoshop macro/action on my graphic source files to
reduce the file size by 50% and sharpen. I replace the graphics
with my graphics and they look marvelous in online help. I copy my
source graphics back into my “graphics folder” imported
into FM at 260 dpi for my printed docs. Can we have the option on
the structure for imported FM files to put them all into one
folder?
- Text entered into the Auto numbering field is not converted
when importing by reference. It is when just doing a straight
import. This is used for standardizing my inserted tables with
pre-populated column titles– Troubleshooting, If/Then, etc.
- Too many CSS issues. It would be nice to have one main
template that we can sync to when the master template is changed.
- Can’t specify a default template to apply to all FM
files when imported.
- My output .chm file is not picking up my Project Settings.
It will not display Favorites, My Window Size, it’s not
showing the TOC.
- Cross-references – sometimes they work and sometimes
they don’t.
- Markers – we use markers for glossary terms and the
character tagging carries forward throughout the rest of the
sentence.
I started testing the product four days ago and these are the
major issues that are keeping me from moving forward with my
overall plan to move to structured FM. I’m now between a rock
and a hard place because now my department does not have the
software to do their job. Do I go to management and tell them that
I made the wrong decision in my tool selection? I choose your TCS
over the updated Quadralay ePublisher that works with FM8…
Maybe they went up on their price because the knew their former
users would come back and be willing to pay the increased price for
their software that generates online help with just a click of a
button.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your help
in advance. Please direct these concerns to those in charge of
enhancing the product (Product Evangelist). A reply and technical
support is greatly appreciated.
Director of Technical Publications - Horizon Software
International, LLC
Nikki Bridwell

Importing CHM files

I inherited a user manual, originally in the form of a
monolithic MS Word document from which PDFs could be created in any
number of ways - and an outsourced RH *.chm help file.
We have moved to the Tech Comm Suite (patched.to latest
level).
I have successfully converted the manual to a FM book, the
PDF's are fine and I can even generate an RH file - of sorts.
To get the RH formating to be as before I tried to
open/import/... the old CHM file - without success, despite the
existence of instructions how to do it in the RH Help - do a search
on "Decompile". The so-called HTML studio doesn't exist in the TCS
version of RH.
(There are third party decompilers, but they are less than
satisfactory since there is no obvious way to use their output with
RH.)
What now?

Hi all
As my friend and colleague Peter stated, the offline help
works better. So why my post? It's to advise that you may need to
close and restart RoboHelp in order to see a change in the help you
get from RoboHelp. At least, on my PC I have to. Maybe others will
be different. But I thought I'd mention it in case you decide to
try it and didn't see anything change.
Cheers... Rick

Why Internet Script Error is generating while importing .SWF file in Robohelp 5?

Hi!
I am using Robohelp version 5. I am trying a import a .SWF generated using Adobe Captivate into a file. I am getting the following error message. Can any one let me know what needs to be done?
Thanks in advance,
Latha

Hi,
I pasted the following code (This code was given in one of the discussions) in the true code to fix the error that is poping up while viewing the .chm file.
<p><object type ="application/x-shockwave-flash"id="object1" data ="../Menucheckmark.swf" style ="border:none; "width= "400" height ="300">
<param name = "movie" value ="../Menucheckmark.swf"/>
<param name = "quality" value ="high"/>
Loading multimedia control.... </object></p>
I changed the swf file name and pasted in the true code. After generating the file, the true code changes as shown below:
<p><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
   id="object1"
   data="../RTDC.swf"
   style= "border:none;"width: "851";
     height:"718";
<param name="movie" value="../RTDC.swf" />
<param name="quality" value="high" />
loading multimedia control.... </object></p>
But still I am getting the error message. Can anyone help me on this?
Thanks,
Latha

Decompiling chm file with Robohelp 7

I am evaluating Robohelp 7. I am trying to decompile a chm
file and cannot find where this feature is located in Robohelp 7.
Does anyone know? The older version had the feature in the Tools
tab. Robohelp 7 does not have a Tools tab.

Peter, I was directed to your website. I successfully
decompiled the chm file and found out that it was created using
Flare. The source files are missing. Can you point me to
information on how to create an hhp file? I downloaded the product
you recommended on your web site, HHP builder. I tried opening the
HELP so I can get instructions on using it and the help will not
open. Can you recommend a web site that provides information on how
to use HHP builder?

Hyperlink issues when importing Frame files into RoboHelp 10.

When I import a Frame file into RoboHelp 10, the text preceding a hyperlink is also mangled with the hyperlink in the output.
For example,
The following online file supplements the information in this guide. Release notes are available on the Support site at
https://support.example.com.
How do you prevent the text that precedes the link from being munged together with the link?
Shuba

Have you placed the hypertext marker within a character tag?
If there's no character tag, then the para, and not the phrase, is your active hypertext area in FM and all electronic output.
For more info, see p511 of my book.
-Matt
Matt R. Sullivan
co-author Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured FrameMaker 11

Importing .htm files into RoboHelp project

In my project in RoboHelp, when I go to File > Import > HTML File… to add a .htm file to my project, it locks up on me instead of providing a directory listing allowing me to select files to add to my project. The only way to get out of it is to go to the Task Manager and killing the process.

Hi there
Your use of "The Vault" would seem to most certainly describe some form of a Source Control system. Source Control systems offer a combination between a Librarian and a Traffic Cop. Typically you log into these systems with a user ID and a password. That way the system knows who you are.
Typically with these systems the data resides on a coroporate network. And also typically you will have a "working folder" on your hard drive where the files exist. When everything is checked into the Source Control system, the files on your hard drive are flagged as "Read Only".
When you need to work with a file, you perform a process of checking out. The Source Control system then changes the Read Only status of the file on your hard drive to Read/Write. But it also makes a note of the date/time stamp. If the file stored in Source Control is newer than the counterpart on your hard drive, it copies the newer file to your hard drive before allowing you to make changes.
I'd begin with a simple sanity check. Create a totally separate and new project. Add a topic or three. Add an image. Generate. Do things work okay? If not, you have some form of issue with RoboHelp that needs to be resolved before you attempt to troubleshoot what is happening with your project in Source Control.
Perhaps try copying the content from Source control to a different folder and see if you are then able to make edits.
Hopefully something here either helped directly or sparked a thought that does.
Cheers... Rick
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Begin learning RoboHelp HTML 7 or 8 within the day - $24.95!
Adobe Certified RoboHelp HTML Training
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Import InDesign files into RoboHelp HTML

Hello,
My company is moving toward online help. We currently use InDesign to author our manuals and then export them to pdf for publication. I've been on the phone with Adobe trying to see if there's a way to easily import InDesign into RoboHelp. We're on an older version of RoboHelp, so I'm told this is possible, but I can't get any help until we buy RoboHelp9. I know that we can import our pdfs into RoboHelp--I'm just wondering if there's a way to import InDesign files directly into RoboHelp. Has anyone tried to do this? Anyone have any suggestions? It seems these two programs should play nice together, doesn't it?
Louley

Hi there
To my knowledge it is not possible to accomplish. I've been using RoboHelp since 1992 and I've never seen it done.
The only way I can fathom it working would be if InDesign could save as an HTML page. Then import the HTML. Or possibly produce a PDF from InDesign, then import that. But even importing the PDF may not give you the results you want.
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links
RoboHelp Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form
Begin learning RoboHelp HTML 7, 8 or 9 within the day!
Adobe Certified RoboHelp HTML Training
SorcerStone Blog
RoboHelp eBooks

Import html file freezes RoboHelp

I have to shut down RoboHelp right after an import. The file won't import. I'm using 7.03. I really need to find a solution fast. Anyone out there have a fix?
Thanks!

OK. So, if it happens in multiple projects. Chances are the projects themselves are not the issue, then.
So what's left - either the program, or the html files you are trying to import.
Let's start with the html files. You haven't said whether any html file causes the crash. Have you tried multiple files? Is there anything unusual about these files? Can you create a plain html file with miminal content (even in Notepad you can do this) and try to import that?
If every html file, no matter the content, fails to import, then I would start looking at the third variable - the program. Now, as I said before, I don't think a normal, complete installation of RH 7.03 has a problem with import, because I do it all the time. It would fail for me too, right?
So - are your RoboHelp program and your project files ALL on your local workstation? They must be, for best results - RH is not a networkable program. It may seem to work fine with the project and / or the program on some remote drive, but sooner or later, it will bite you in the arse. So if that's the case, move everything to your local hard drive and try again. That means uninstalling the program from your networked location, and installing it with all v7 updates on your personal workstation.
If everything is already local, then I would consider uninstalling and reinstalling the v7 and all the updates on your local workstation.
gives you a lot to think about. just take one step at a time. you'll get there, because this functionality is not broken.

Help importing a decompiled .chm file

Hello,
I was recently trying to decompile a .chm file (following the
knowledge base instructions) and then importing that file into
RoboHelp. The file appeared to decompile correctly, but when I
loaded the project into RoboHelp, many images were missing. Is
there something else I should be doing or is this a known problem?
I am using RH6.
Thanks,
Aaron

Hmm...
Ok, I tried a couple things:
1. Created the folder in RH per both of your suggestions.
Result: RH still not seeing the files.
2. Create a new Sub-Folder in the Project directory folder
containing a copy of all the images and also created a folder with
the same name in the RH Images tree.
Result: RH still not seeing the files.
In all cases the files exist in the expected folders when
viewed in Explorer but only a subset appear in RH (the same subset
in all cases).
My dir structure looks like:
c:\project_folder containing all files
with
c:\project_folder\project_images containing a copy of the
image files
I have created a folder in the RH Image tree names
project_images.
Any other thoughts?
Thanks for the help (and putting up with my lack of knowledge
here).
Aaron

Importing Adobe Captivate into Robohelp 6

When I try to import Captivate files into RoboHelp it seems
like the import was successful, but when I try to view it the
screen is blank. I any new to working on Captivate as well, but I
beleive everything is ok on that end.
Any ideas?

Hey Colum,
Thanks for your help, but I still seem to be having
difficulty.
I am using RoboHelp HTML 6 for my project.
Here is what I have done:
Created my Captivate file & saved it.
Imported the Captivate file in my Baggage Folder.
Problems are:
When I double click on the file in Baggage it opens up
Captivate.
I then tried to import the same clip into a New Topic, but
again all I get is a text box saying Flash Movie File. I compiling
the porject, but when I try to click on the topic with the
Captivate file, but the page freezes. When I mouse over the text
box it says "Click to activate & use this control."
Any help would be great.
Thanks

RoboHelp for HTML 9 - Problem with viewing .chm file on 64bit machine

I am working with RoboHelp for HTML 9 on a 32 bit machine. Recently, we encountered problems when viewing a .chm file on a 64 bit machine. The TOC was fine, but the topics did not appear, only error message "Navigation of this web page cancelled". My compilation settings did not change since the last compilation some months ago. What happens?

Generally, I've only ever seen the need to ensure the CHM is unblocked if it has been downloaded from the web. I could see where it could possibly occur if one moved the CHM from a network drive to a local drive, but I'm skeptical that would be required in that case.
Cheers... Rick

Browse sequence buttons not appearing in RoboHelp 9 .chm file

When I first created this project two years ago, I didn't think I'd be using browse sequences. Well, of course, things change, and now I think it would be a good idea.
I followed the instructions for creating a browse sequence automatically (Tools > Browse Sequence Editor, then Auto-create from TOC). That seemed to work.
I compile the .chm file. No >> buttons.
How do I enable them? I looked at the master page layout and didn't see anything there. I looked at the Project Settings (File > Project Settings) and couldn't see anything there.
I've searched the RH 9 help and can't find any reference. My guess is that they must appear automatically and I must have, in my infinite wisdom (HA!) deleted them two years ago when I thought I didn't need them.
Suggestions?

Hi, MM Acton
Allow me to chime in with my esteemed colleagues. The first issue I see is that you do not have a Window Defined. You need a window in order to select the Browse Sequence Option for the CHM.
In Project Set Up create a new window, selecting Microsoft HTML Help as the type
On the Microsoft HTML Help Options Dialog, give the Window a name such as "CHMWindow" (No spaces)
Be sure to "tick" the Browse Sequence option and click OK
Double click the Microsoft HTML Help Single Source Layout to bring up the HTML Help Options dialog
From the Default Window drop down, select the CHMWindow you created
Save and Generate
This will show the browse sequence "icon avenue" (the showy icons at the top of the CHM)
As for the Citrix thing. If the machine hosting the CHM being viewed has the HHActiveX.DLL installed, the CHM should display as advertised. Tell your Admin that Adobe licenses unlimited re-distribution of that DLL.
You can find documentation on this redistribution license and how to register it in the online help:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/robohelp/robohtml/WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d11aff59c2a0-7f49.ht ml
Here is the path where you will find the DLL itself:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe RoboHelp 10\Redist
BTW, the reason the DLL was created in the first place is that Microsoft never provided a Browse Sequence or a Glossary tab in their "out of the box" offering so RoboHelp conveniently provides this to authors as a "extra".
Hope this helps
John
John Daigle
Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor
www.showmethedemo.com
@hypertexas

RoboHelp HTML does not generate .chm file

We have a large help system for F1 help with about 2,000 help
topics in about 50 different Word .doc files. We had used RoboHelp
for Word previously, but with the goal of generating a single .chm
help file, we tried using RoboHelp HTML to change the Word .doc
files to .htm files. RoboHelp HTML does this conversion and creates
2,000 .htm files.
When we try to generate the .chm file for the help system,
RoboHelp for HTML does not respond and does not create the .chm
file. Is RoboHelp HTML not capable of handling such a big help
system? Are there any workarounds to generate the .chm file
successfully?

Peter, thanks for your input. Here's where we are. We opened
RoboHelp HTML and converted the Word docs into .html files. Then we
were able to generate the .chm file (it worked this time) using
RoboHelp HTML. We have about 50 .gif images, and no external links.
The actual number of HTML files with help topics is close to
4,000 for this F1 field help in our application. Ideally, we would
love to have a master project with sub-projects, but it doesn't
appear as a practical alternative. The .hh file (for F1 field help)
is generated from the application by the developer and given to us.
In order to have a master project and slave projects, we
would have to manually split that automatically-generated.hh file
into individual .hh files, true? That means we would have to
correlate which .html help topic file corresponds with which map id
number, then chalk out how we want to divide the .html help topics
into individual projects that correspond to their .hh files?
This help system I inherited is 10 years old, and the
resource time we would spend (if we chose to modularize this help
system) would be gigantic in scope. If there is a simpler and
efficient way to modularize our F1 help system, I would love to
hear about it!

RoboHelp 8 HTML - context sensitive chm file does not open?

This works:
RoboHelp_CSH.RH_ShowHelp(0, "C:\\RoboHelp\\!SSL!\\WebHelp\\XHelp_File.htm", RoboHelp_CSH.HH_HELP_CONTEXT, 2);
This doesn't
RoboHelp_CSH.RH_ShowHelp(0, "C:\\RoboHelp\\!SSL!\\Microsoft_HTML_Help\\XHelp_File.chm", RoboHelp_CSH.HH_HELP_CONTEXT, 1);
Why does the context sensitve calls of a chm file not work?
Does it require a different map file?

Hi there
I believe the actual call is different.
Here is a copy/paste from an older RoboHelp HTML CHM file that we might use as an example:
Window-level Help for Windows applications
To call a topic using a map number, make a call to the HTML Help API using the following syntax:
HWND HtmlHelp(Window(), “c:\path\helpfile.chm”, HH_HELP_CONTEXT, Number);
To call a topic using a file name, make a call to the HTML Help API using the following syntax:
HWND HtmlHelp (Window(), “c:\path\helpfile.chm”, HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, "topicfile.htm");
Hopefully that helps.,. Rick
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Import CHM files in RoboHelp 9

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