Problem with compilation crashing

Question

Hi,
I'm having an issue with RH9 when I try to compile a CHM.
Fo a start, it's getting very agitated about the variable code for some reason, but just for the master topic:
Normal2.htt :
The HTML tag "?rh-variable_start name="title" format="default" v..." is not a valid HTML tag (it does not begin with an alphanumeric character).
But it also hates a lot of my images:
Button_Print_Preview.gif :
The HTML tag "ïMž\ã|ÅR£dPœ$s …U„ ]¸y\¸Ù³w®›,[‘”<‹ ÈÈ”CÆ ¢J„f‹œ Þ..." is not a valid HTML tag (it does not begin with an alphanumeric character).
I've checked the image, there is no HTML even close to it like the compiler is describing.
When it gets part way through the images it crashes.
The images were made with PSP 4 and 8 (I'm having trouble getting funding for newer versions) and have transparent sections.
If I rename and replace the image names that sometimes work in clearing the issue, and sometimes not. I've tried remaking them...no dice.
There is nothing in the HTML to suggest what could be tripping up the compiler, is this an IE9 issue?
To further complicate things, this is a file that was once RH9, then had to be downgraded to 8, then upgraded to 9.
It's also a template for WebHelp that I've stripped back down to complied help. I'm pretty sure that any of those things could have screwed it up, but I just can't see what has screwed up!
For example:
HHC3002: Warning:
Button_Print_Preview.gif :
The HTML tag "c" is missing a closing angle bracket.
The code is:
<p class="Tip"><span class="Tip">Tip</span>: You can use <img src="../../Images/Button_Print_Preview.gif" alt="Button_Print_Preview.gif" style="border: none;" border="0" /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Print Preview</b></span> to view the data you are about to print out.</p>
I've 'deleted' the XPJ, no effect. Any ideas?
I'm on Windows 7, with IE9
Nicola

Answer 1

Hi William,
2. The HTML tag for the print image is just a lof of gibberish. Is that exactly what you're seeing?
I can't view the output because the compiler crashes before it can generate the CHM. I can generate WebHelp without these issues.
  - Are your project AND your output directory both on your local drive?
Yes.
  - Do you use long filenames/folder names? Long file paths may give trouble.
Typical path: "../../Images/Button_DocumentsStandard.gif"
I don't think that's excessive!
  - You have deleted the XPJ. Have you also tried deleting the CPJ? Make a full backup, remove the CPJ and open the project again.
Can't find a CPJ, did you mean the CPD?? I've done that, no change.
  - Can you run the W3C compliance tool to see what problems might be in your code? (File > W3C Compliance > Validate all)
I could, do you mean on the source or output? I don't have the output code (RH deletes it), and the source looks ok to me... nothing fancy.
  - You say this is a 'file' that was RH9, went back to RH8 and is now back to RH9. Do you mean a single file or the entire project? What did you do to 'downgrade' the file/project?
Sorry, the project got downgraded. I can't remember what I did to downgrade it, this was a while ago.
If you get errors that certain tags are incomplete, there might be something wrong with the code in your topics.
I agree with this, but can't see anything wrong with the code.
Thanks,
Nicola