Merge Topics in Robohelp project

Hi
I am using licienced version of Robohelp9.The problem I am facing is described below.
I am creating Robohelp project from a pdf file.Some topics in my pdf file spreads to one page and some to more than one page. If I generate a Robohelp project from it each page creates a new topic
The problem which I am facing by it is if any topic of pdf is covered in several pages (say 3 pages) Robohelp project creates 3 new topics rather than a single topic
Is there any option to merge the relevant topics into one Robohelp9.
Please provide help

Which option are you selecting when you import? I just created a PDF with three topics, each starting with the Heading 1 style. Two topics were multi-page and one was single page.
I selected the first option and the in next screen I selected Style 1 to break the PDF into topics. I got three topics with the correct content.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Similar Messages

Topics in multiple projects in RoboHelp 8 are getting crossed over

I have multiple projects I imported/upgraded into RoboHelp 8. Initially when in each project, all topics are correct. But after importing second and subsequent projects, when I go back to the first project, it shows the topics from the last project?? What's going on? I've tried searching to see if this has happened to others, but do not see anything of the like... Any help would be appreciated...

Hi all
Perhaps it will help if we take a moment to understand a bit of the evolution of RoboHelp.
Pull your chairs a bit closer and I'll tell you a story. In earlier years RoboHelp projects were managed by the .MPJ file. Because the MPJ file kept track of all project aspects, it was possible to store as many different projects as you like in the same main folder. This was nice from the aspect of sharing content. You could set things up so that you had common topics and images across multiple projects. If any of them changed, you changed them in any project and they changed for ALL projects using them. Of course this meant you had to recompile or re-generate each project if they changed, but the change actually only occurred once.
Now along comes X5 with a new file structure. XML format. This meant some changes. Unfortunately some changes that effectively blew this manner of working totally out of the water. You may wonder why. Well, it's because while each project is mostly unique, some of the underlying files are rather generically named. For example, you have the ProjectName.XPJ, which is specific to each project, but that XPJ references generic files with APJ (Anaheim ProJect) file extensions. Files such as rhskins.apj, rjsnippet.apj and so on.
My guess as to what has happened here is that with only one instance of these files able to be in a single folder, whoever saved last wins.
What you have ahead of you is the following task.
You need to split the projects into separate folders so that each project is in its own folder.
THEN you upgrade each project.
You should probably begin by restoring from the backup you made prior to attempting the upgrade.
You, ummm, DID make one, didn't you?
Cheers all... Rick
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Maximum size of a robohelp project

Hi All,
Assuming you have a high-powered computer, what is the
maximum size you would recommend for a RoboHelp 7.0 project? Is
there a limit specified? Is there a limit for the number of topics
allowed?
Thanks,
Jen

Peter, I did draw the correct conclusion, but perhaps I did
not phrase it very well.
If the user generates Printed Documentation from a RoboHelp
project, then the size of the project (that is, the part of it that
is used to create the Printed Documentation) does have size limits
(or the user needs to workaround this problem by merging multiple
DOC/PDF files afterwards).
Indeed, this only applies for projects from which the user
generates Printed Documentation.
Our high-end PCs have a very large amount of RAM (as much as
the latest motherboards can handle). We can easily manipulate PDF
and DOC files with thousands of pages. But generating more than
1,000 pages of Printed Documentation from RoboHelp seems to be
problematic.
We work with a lot of reports that contain many hundred and
often several thousand pages. Only RoboHelp's Printed Documentation
cannot handle it.
Perhaps I should add that the size of RoboHelp projects
itself does not necessarily slow things down. It is to total amount
of complexity that makes life difficult for RoboHelp. 1,000 pages
of plain HTML and a basic TOC does not cause problems. But tons of
hyperlinks, extensive Index, See Also, Browse Sequences, image
maps, etc. will cause troubles for these same 1,000 pages.
Especially removing items from the database can take some time
then, and increase the likelyhood of a corrupted database.
-- Peter, I hope that this aligns with your
perspective.

Files modified outside of RoboHelp project

Here's an odd problem. Instead of updating files in RoboHelp,
a trainer in my office has been using Dreamweaver to update the
output files directly. (Going into !SSL!\Webhelp and editing those
files instead of editing the files in the project and regenerating
the help.)
In addition, there are a great many new things (documents,
links to external files, etc.) that are linked to the modified
files. A help file that I created ended up being tacked on to the
whole thing via a link on the intro screen instead of being merged
into the TOC like the other help modules. (The person who created
the original help system is not the person who has been maintaining
it for the past two years.)
As a result, the topics in the RoboHelp project do not
necessarily match all of the topics in the current help system.
This is now on my plate. In addition to making sure that my
colleague attends a RoboHelp training class, any advice on the best
way to clean this up?

Hi Cindy
Oh dear oh dear. You have quite a task ahead of you!
I'm sure there will be many folks that will raise their
eyebrows after reading what I'm about to suggest. But I'd have to
say that if you aren't totally sure about what has been updated,
you might be safer by simply copying the WebHelp output files and
overay the project source files. After you do that, there will be
much cleanup work involved. Fortunately, I've developed an article
that should help with this task. You can read it by
Clicking
here.
In my opinion, the only other real option is to methodically
compare each topic with the source topic to ascertain if it has
changed. This could likely prove far more tedious and time
consuming than it would be to do what I suggested earlier.
Regardless of how you choose to proceed, you should ensure
you have a good backup on hand.
After you get it all sorted out, it's time for a really good
lesson for your "helper" about the difference between
source and
output files. Perhaps a human parallel to the old analogy
about feeding oats to horses is in order. You know the one. You
feed oats to the horse. That's like creating WebHelp. The oats go
in one way and come out, ummm, how shall I put this? "Processed".
So as you might imagine, the "processed" oats won't be nearly as
appetizing and nutritious the second (and subsequent) passes
through the horse. Tell the "helper" that if they insist on working
that way, you are going to force them to eat "specially processed"
oats for lunch every day until the activity stops.
Hopefully this helps... Rick

How do I make a new topic have the same formatting as other topics in a project?

Hi,
I am using RH 8 for HTML. I am updating a preexisting project and am new to RH. When I create a new topic, how do I get the formatting (fonts, shading, etc.) from another topic? The old topics are formatted in a certain way. When I create a new topic, or even paste existing content from an old topic into it, it has different fonts and shading. Is this something I must do manually, or is there an automatic way? Either way, I could use some pointers.
I would past a screen capture here, but when I tried to do that, the formatting went away.
Thank you for any help you can provide!
Erin

Hi there
Probably it's just a matter of associating the correct CSS file.
Open both topics in RoboHelp.
Edit a topic where things look correct.
Click the CSS icon as shown below:
Click the image below for larger view
Now edit the errant topic.
Click the same icon and choose the CSS file you saw earlier.
Cheers... Rick
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Adding a Loading Animation to a Captivate movie for use in a RoboHelp Project?

Hello all:
I'm inserting SWFs (built in Captivate 5) into Robohelp topics (using RoboHelp 9, publishing to WebHelp Pro output). These topics hold only the SWFs, so I've published the SWFs to autoplay when opened.
The problem is this: when I publish my RoboHelp project, my Captivate movies display as image icons (see screenshot). There is no loading animnation or screenshot to indicate that the Captivate movie works. If I wait a few seconds (variable, depending on file size of the SWF), the movie will appear and start to play. I'm concerned that my user will think the file is broken and leave the page.
How can I enable a loading animation (or even a loading image) to show my user that there is, in fact, content on the page when the topic loads? I'd like to keep the auto-play functionality, if possible.

The best option is to break out the words because it gives you the most control. However, if the two words you want to glow are next to each other you can use the Sequence Text behavior.
Select the text and apply Text Animation/Sequence Text to the layer. In the behaviors tab, click on the Add parameter and select Glow/Color. This will create a parameter that you can assign to a character, word, line or custom area.
Now you'll need to add several parameters so repeat the above step adding parameters for Glow/Opacity, Glow/Blur, and Glow/Radius. You might even want to change the color of the font for those two words. If so, add a parameter for Face/Color.
Once you have all the parameters added, change the Traversal parameter to Custom. Change the Select parameter to Custom. Use the Start parameter to determine the beginning of the "glow" area, and the End parameter to fix the end of it. Set the Spread to 0 so there is no spillage of the glow to the words on either side.
Now adjust the color, blur and radius of the glow just as you would if you were adding it to the entire paragraph.
Andy

Linking to .hlp topics from RoboHelp HTML 6

We have a comprehensive help file for our CADD systems built
in RoboHelp 6 for Word that has been compiled to WinHelp 2000
(.hlp) format. We now want to link to specific topic from a project
being built in RoboHelp HTML 6. This is easy to do in RoboHelp 6
for Word but I cannot find out how to do this in the HTML version.
Any help is greatly appreciated, and please dumb down the
responses, I will be appreciative not offended.
Thanks,
Kelly

Hi Kelly and welcome to our community
Whether you may do this will depend on whether you are
creating WebHelp or a Compiled .CHM output. I don't believe it will
work with WebHelp. If you are creating a compiled .CHM, first off
make sure your primary layout is configured for Microsoft HTML
Help. If it isn't, you won't see the option I'm about to point you
to.
Once you cross that hurdle, click inside a topic and choose
Insert > HTML Help Controls > WinHelp Topic...
Hopefully that helps some... Rick

Converting RoboHelp project from v.4.1 to 8

I have problems with converting RoboHelp project created in
RoboHelp Office for Word version 4.1 into RoboHelp for Word version
8.
The project contains documents made in polish language.
Project opens fine in new version of RoboHelp, but during help
compilation to .chm file, I receive some errors. I found out, that
most of those errors are caused by polish characters in document
names. That's no problem - finaly I can modify it. However why it
was not problem in older version of RoboHelp ?
Real problem I have is with TOC - after compilation I don't
have any polish letters in topic names: they are changed for other
letters or characters.
I've made a little project (one simple document in polish
with few topics) in RoboHelp 8 with the same settings like in my
original old project - unfortunately after compilation I received
same errors with TOC.
I think that I missed something in project settings, but I
don't know what it may be. My other idea: RoboHelp doesn't support
polish language anymore :( because I don't see it in list File >
Project Settings > Language.
Please help me to solve this problem.

The information she provided was from QuickTime Player.
It would seem that the tapes were shot that way (for whatever reason).
She can try capturing the tapes again, maybe it will make a difference, maybe not.
A couple of things to try before starting to recapture:
Deleting FCP Preferences:
Open a Finder window. Set the view mode to columns:
Click the house icon that has your name next to it.
Click the folder "Library" in the next column.
Find and click the folder "Preferences" in the next column.
Find and click the folder "Final Cut Pro User Data" in the next column.
Move the files "Final Cut Pro 4.0 Prefs", "Final Cut Pro Obj Cache" and "Final Cut Pro Prof Cache" to the Trash and empty it.
Open the project in Final Cut Pro. Go to the menu bar: Final Cut Pro > Easy Setup > NTSC DV > OK
Menu bar again: Sequence > Settings > Load Sequence Preset > OK > OK.
The procedure above has reset FCP to it's default values and set the project for NTSC DV.
If the warning still appears, it is not an FCP problem.

Updating same topics in two projects

Hi,
I Have one complete RoboHelp projects.
For the needs of a team in my organization, I created a new
projet and I imported only the folder and topics needed in the
second project. The two projects have differents URL.
I will like to know : If some change are made in the original
projects, it is possible to publish these change in the duplicate
project ?
If I create a conditional tag and I add a new URL address in
the original project, do I will have the result I wish?
Thanks!

A project contains source files, let's say you have 100
topics for the sake of argument.
You can generate two quite separate outputs which can include
whichever of those 100 you want. It could be all or some.
So output 1 (which is what I take you to mean the first URL)
would contain whatever that audience needs and output 2 would
contain whatever the audience needs.
Topics that go in both would be untagged. So anything that
ONLY goes into output1 would be tagged output1 and anything that
ONLY goes into output2 would be tagged output2. When you generate
output1, you would use a build expression of NOT output2. That way
the build would contain all the untagged topics and everything not
tagged output2, that is the output 1 topics. Read it again, it
makes sense!
It's the whole idea of single sourcing. One set of source
files that can produce multiple outputs.
If you right click the single source layout folder, you will
see you can create additional outputs. Set up two for this purpose
then you will not have to keep changing the target folder and build
expression.
Create a small test project to try it out.

How to share topic from master project to another

Hi. I am new to RH v 9. So, sorry for maybe dumb question
We are developing a software product which consists from two parts - Core & Portal.
Each of part must have separate help page, so we created two projects.
Q: Some topics on each project will be identical, how to share, link them between projects?
We don't want to duplicate our work. Topic should be maneged on one place.
Thanks.

I am thinking you would be better off to have one project and then apply conditional build tags to the topics. Then by creating different layouts in the SSL pod and using different build expressions you could include / exclude content as required.
Topics that will only ever be Core could be tagged CoreOnly, topics that will only ever be Portal could be tagged PortalOnly. Common topics would be left untagged.
The Core layout would use the expression NOT PortalOnly while the Portal layout would use the expression NOT CoreOnly. By that means you would exclude what is not wanted and include everything else.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Why don't I see the "Show Merged TOC in Child Project" setting?

I have read about the "Show Merged TOC in Child Project" setting in RoboHelp 8 and have seen a screen shot of the build properties page where that check box is. But, when I go to build WebHelp, I don't see the same window. A number of the settings are different, and there is no "Show Merged TOC in Child Project" setting. I am using RoboHelp 8 (version 8.0.2.208 to be exact). I have pasted in a screen shot of the window that I see.
The first screen I see when I build WebHelp looks the same as the screen shot in Peter Grainge's article on Merged Help. The screen above is the second one I see.
Can anyone help? I'm mystified!

Hi there
Looks like you experimented with enabling Section 508. When you do that and toggle it back off, you are left with the Traditional style - no skin WebHelp. So back up a screen and choose a skin. Then you will see the option.
Cheers... Rick
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Unable to load the 'C:\InetPub\robohelp\' project. The project is invalid.

We're having troubles opening/viewing our 'prepsmart' project
on our production server. (It works fine in our test environment).
I have tried re-installing RoboEngine 4.0, and successfully
re-generated and re-published the project to the server. However,
when I try to access the project using a url like:
http://<servername>:<port>/RoboAPI.asp?project=prepsmart&context=700,
it displays the message: "Contragulations The RoboEngine has been
successfully created. To get started using RoboEngine, you need to
publish a project. Please see the getting started guide or
deployment manual that corresponds to your authoring tool for more
information. "
I see the same screen if I click on "View Project" within the
RogoEngine Configuration Manager.
When I click the Troubleshoot icon in the Configuration
manager, it lists the following errors:
Unable to load the 'C:\InetPub\robohelp\' project. The
project is invalid.
Project prepsmart cannot be found.
Unable to locate the ' ' window.
Cannot find the list of projects.
If I specify a specific page (i.e.
http://denpiis01:8000/Robo/BIN/Robo.dll?tpc=/robo/projects/prepsmart/Getting_Started.htm),
it displays the help page. So, I
think the web site is configured and working OK.
Any ideas why I can successfully publish the project, but
RoboEngine can't find the project?
Thanks,
Greg

Hello Vipul Kumawat,
I saw a related thread from here:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15246449/visual-studio-xaml-designer-not-getting-loaded
Their solution is related to fix corrupt Visual Studio.
So may I clarify the following:
1. What's your Visual Studio version?
2. Have you ever tried to repair Visual Studio from control panel first?
3. Can you reproduce this issue when access any other new projects? For example, Store App, WPF App, or even new simple Windows Phone app? What's the result if you use them?
Best regards,
Barry
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Are Adobe Captivate swf files not compatible with IE8 or IE9 when inserted into RoboHelp projects?

Hi,
I've published Adobe Captivate swf files and then inserted them into my RoboHelp project. I then synced my RoboHelp project with our website and the videos within online help are not functioning in IE8 or IE9. They are only working in IE11.
Thanks,
Jaimie

Hi there
When a SWF plays in IE, it uses the Flash Player ActiveX control. I'm not 100% sure that different versions of IE would share the install. So if you have one version of IE on your machine, perhaps it either doesn't even have the control added in or it's the wrong version.
One thing I would check in the browsers where the content seems to be missing is to right-click the blank area and see if you coax a Flash pop similar to below:
Then note the version number.
You may find that all that you (or others) need to do is ensure you have at least a specific version of the player/add-in installed.
Cheers... Rick

Can a RoboHelp project be used as a template for other projects?

I noticed there is the ability to "duplicate a layout". Does
that mean I can use my RoboHelp project with all its settings as a
template for other projects. I corrupted an existing project by
deleting a generated HTML file. I forced an update on one of the
chapters in a linked FM book and now for whatever reason in the
generated output, the entire book is being re-created within the
folder for the chapter in which I deleted the HTML output and
forced an output.
Surely I don't have to redefine all the settings again in the
FrameMaker Document Settings dialog, and in the WebHelp layout. All
enlightenment is much appreciated. Come on baby give it to me one
more time! Sorry couldn't resist. It is Friday after all.
Peter

Hi there Writerman_in_TO
You seem to have a multiple segmented question.
I noticed there is the ability to "duplicate a layout". Does
that mean I can use my RoboHelp project with all its settings as a
template for other projects.
In one way, yes you can. You are able to use Windows Explorer
to copy the project folder to a new location. Once you do that, you
can open RoboHelp and open the project. Then click File > Rename
Project and off you go.
Not sure what to tell you about the Frame > RoboHelp
mashup. Not familiar with Frame yet. Hopefully someone more savvy
there will pop in and help.
Cheers... Rick

Get out of memory error when linking Frame doc to RoboHelp project

I just upgraded to TC Suite 5.
Now I'm trying to link FrameMaker files to my RoboHelp project. The FrameMaker files are from a document that was done in Frame 9 (TC Suite 3.5) and now has been converted to Frame 11. It's working fine in Frame 11. No errors when opening any of the files in Frame 11.
I created a new project in RH 11 and tried linking the FM files to it. Some work, but some bring on an Out of Memory message. Interestingly, one file that is 68MB worked fine, one file that's only 58MB brings that message.
I'm going to try using an Externalize Graphics addon that worked well with the old Frame--I can only hope it works with FM 11 now.
Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening, and any solutions besides externalizing the graphics and trying to reduce the file size?
Thanks.

I was finally able to get the files to work by opening and saving in FrameMaker numerous times.
Re: your questions. . . I did not try importing directly. I linked and then generated. Yes, the linking did work with RH9 from the TCS 3.5.

Merge Topics in Robohelp project

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