No .rhc file to call in WebHelp

Question

In WebHelp Pro we called the .rhc file but now that we're
using WebHelp how do we "call" for context sensitivity?
BACKGROUND: I built a OLH system using WebHelp PRO consisting
of 1 master project and 15 sub-projects. I placed only a Welcome
topic and global links out to the other topics -- then a link back
into the master.....Looked and worked great, HOWEVER, the Glossary,
Index and Search capability was not global.... You had to enter a
specific project to only view it's Index, etc.
So, I phoned customer support.
They said I'd need to change everything (single source layouts)
to WebHelp instead of Webhelp Pro, then, merge everything
together.
I didn't realize you could'nt merge projects if they were in
PRO format.
I rebuilt the structure by removing all the links and merging
all the projects into one.
Now, it looks and works great with full global search,
glossary, index capability -- however, my programmer is lost
because there's no longer .rhc files for him to "call"......to gain
context sensivity.....
Usually, we'd go to the SSL!>WebHelp PRO folder to locate
it.....
Now, when we go to the SSL! > WebHelp folder it's totally
empty.
Help! what do we do at this point to call a topic?
When the user clicks on a specified icon for Workflow
diagrams, it should call the Workflow topic.
Customer support is closed, I hope you can help -- this has to
pass Quality Assurance tomorrow morning! Chris

Answer 1

In response to your baby steps post... (I'm just now seeing
it) -- sorry.....
When I go to the SS layout, Properties of one of my
sub-projects called "CALENDAR" (this is what it says):
C:\Documents and
Settings\attanasic\Desktop\MASTER\PIMS\!SSL!\WebHelp\mergedProjects\CALENDAR\CALENDAR.htm
When I go to the SS layout, Properties of the
Master project it says:
C:\Documents and
Settings\attanasic\Desktop\MASTER\PIMS\!SSL!\WebHelp\PIMS_Master.htm
The way the support person taught me was to LEAVE the master
project generating to it's own default folder.... (which is the
SSL!>WebHelp folder......
but when you go to the sub-projects, you must change the
generation location and direct it back INTO the master project's
"mergedProjects" folder...
Once you are in there....you'll see a folder already
generated and ready to hold your sub-project's output. (in this
case, within the "mergedProjects folder" was an automatically
generated 'CALENDAR' folder....so, to be successful in your merge,
you double click on the Calendar folder and direct the path into
there......
After doing so, you generate the sub-project then
close.....then, go back and generate your master project (and be
sure not to checkmark the 'republish all' button when re-generating
your master to prevent unwanted overwrites of your master's
sub-projects. (this is the final stage of merging) and it all works
beautifully......
Specific Steps to Merge Projects Together (in order):
1) create a master project - set SS layout to WebHelp
2) create 2 sub-projects -(we'll call them: "Calendar" and
"Data" and set each to SS: WebHelp
3) go back to master's TOC and add "New Merged Project"
(looks like a "G" icon)
4) go to SS layout, right click, generate, then generate
(when you do this, it creates the sub-folder within the
mergedFolder area --- ready and waiting for you output to be pushed
into here)
5) go back to you sub-projects, click on the SS layout,
Generate, change path (navigating into the MASTER project > SSL
> WEBHELP > MergedFolders > Calendar.....(repeat the same
step for the Data project).....
Now, that you've got the sub-projects dropping into the
master -- you need to do one final generate on the master to update
what has been pushed into it's mergedFolders area..... and you're
done.
All looks and works beautifully.....all are merged together
and share one Glossary, one Index, etc.
Now, if you go to file explorer and navigate to the WebHelp
folder for Calendar, or Data, or any other sub-project it is empty
because it's no longer generating into that area.
WALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just figured it out! --- well,
PART OF THE PROBLEM.....
The key was "it's no longer generating to THAT area" --- now,
I'll need to tell my programer to dig down into the MASTER
PROJECT'S FOLDER, MergedProjects folder, and sub-folder (ie:
Calendar)
Problem 1 (missing .rhc files)
Problem 2 (the full file name path that was used and was
visible in WebHelp Pro was: .rhc.htm)
like this:
.........web/MASTER/CALENDAR/CALENDAR/!SSL!/WebHelp_Pro/CALENDAR_rhc.htm
I found .rhc files in the MergedProjects folders --- but none
have the .htm at the end -- so, I'm not sure that they'll work.
Will have to get the programmer to try calling it on his side
I guess....
I guess I'm stuck for tonight --- until he confirms whether
or not it will work without the .htm extension.
Thanks for your help!
I'll get back with you (everyone) on the outcome.....
If you think of anything else -- feel free to post! 8-)