Relative Links to External Files in OS X

I'm using Director MX 2004 in OS X, and I need to use a
relative link to an external cast member (a Flash file) in the
"dswmedia" folder. I know how to create a relative link in Director
for Windows - I edit the link in Flash Asset Properties to link to
"dswmedia/filename.swf". I do not know how to do this in OS X - the
link remains "Macintosh
HD:Users:maxsimms:Documents:Director:dswmedia:file.swf".
I'm sure that this is an easy question for most Mac users,
but I'm new to the Mac and I cannot figure it out.
Can any Mac person help me out?

You need to use the proper file separator character. For
Windows the
character is "/", for Mac its ":". This character is also the
last
character in the moviePath property, so you can use that to
simplify
things.
You could use something like this in your code:
fileSep = _movie.path.char[_movie.path.char.count]
pathToFile = "dswmedia" & fileSep & "filename.swf"
Rob
Rob Dillon
Adobe Community Expert
http://www.ddg-designs.com
412-243-9119
http://www.macromedia.com/software/trial/

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Links to external files do nothing after being burned to disk

I built a product catalog a while ago in CS4 and now I've had to edit it in InDesign CS5. With InDesign CS4, everything worked fine. The files were linked and then all the file were burned to disk, all the files worked on the disk (links, etc). I have since edited the files in InDesign CS5. I build the catalog, created all the links (interior within the same pdf, links to external pdfs and other file types). Everything works on the computer but somehow fails after being burned to disk.
My sequence was like this:
Set up product catalog last year with links and files, everything was fine and worked as expected.
Opened the file, made my edits.
Made links between the pdf's pages and from the pdf to external pdfs and videos etc. All of these links work in the pdf.
Burn the files to a disk
Some of the old links work
All the links within the main pdf work
None of the new links to external files work. I click the link and nothing happens. The paths are exactly the same as the previous version
I have tried:
Examining the links, everything is based on pseudo relative paths (last year it worked fine)
Burning the disk on a Mac and a Windows XP
Please help. Any and all help is very much apprecitated.

I figured it out.
I created the links in InDesign by making an interactive link to a file. When I open the file in Acrobat, the links work fine over the network. I burn to disk and the links no longer work.
Problem: At some point, InDesign changes the "open file" hyperlink command in InDesign into a URL webpage request in Acrobat.
Solution: So basically, I now have to go into the file in Acrobat and change all the buttons from "open web link" to "open file." It's only a product catalog with about 1,200 links that's due today.

Links to external files don't work

Hello
Using RH 8.02 and converting linked Word docs (Word 2002) to WebHelp. These are policies and procedures that reference external documents.
In my Word doc I have a hyperlink to an external document. This doc is on a network server. In Word I added the hyperlink and it appeared as a relative path, such as ../RelatedDocs/RelDoc1.doc.
The referenced file is an external file, and I don't want to add it to RH because it may be updated; I just want to link to it so that a user gets the latest version.
When I update the HTML files in RH I see this in my HTML file:
<a href="file:////terminus/avbase_techsupport/av-base documents/supportmaster/documentationshare/relateddocs/reldoc1.doc">Related Doc 1</a>
This is the correct absolute path for the referenced file. Note the file://// prefix, with four forward slashes.
When I generate WebHelp, the link doesn't work. Nothing happens.
I tried the following:
1. Copied the whole path into my Windows Start > Run box and hit Enter. Nothing happens.
2. Removed two of the forward slashes and copied it again into the Run box. Now the file opens in Word.
I also tried removing the hyperlinks from the Word docs and adding them through RH instead. Same result.
Why does RH add four forward slashes to the prefix? What can I do to get these external links working?
Thanks for your help.
Roger Shuttleworth
London, Canada

Hello Peter
I apologize for taking so long to respond. I just received a new computer with Vista and have had to set it up. Here is what happens:
1. In Word, I have a doc policy1.doc that contains a hyperlink to reldoc1.doc. The two files are in different folders. When I insert the link, Word shows it as a relative path ../RelatedDocs/reldoc1.doc. When I hover over it in the Word doc, it shows as an absolute path starting with file:///\\theserver, etc.
2. My RH project includes policy1.doc but not reldoc1.doc. I update policy1.doc in RH. In the HTML topic file (HTML view) the link is:
<a href="file:////theserver/path/reldoc1.doc">Link text</a>. Note the four forward slashes.
3. I save all project files and generate WebHelp.
4. In the resultant web page (in Firefox), I click the link in policy1 and nothing happens. The status bar shows the path the same as above.
5. I navigate to the output !SSL! and find the index page, and open it in Internet Explorer 8. The link shows in the status bar as file://theserver/path/reldoc1.doc, and when clicked IE opens the Word doc.
So in this case Firefox doesn't open the link but IE does.
Here is another scenario:
1. I have no links in myWord docs.
2. I generate topic files in RH using the linked Word docs.
3. In RH, in the HTML file for policy1 (policy1.htm) I add a link to reldoc1.doc. I choose the file protocol. RH asks me if I want to copy the doc into the project folder, and I say No.
4. I check the HTML for policy1.htm and see that it has the link as follows:
<a href="file://J:/Documents/rest of folder path/RelDoc1.doc">Related Doc 1</a>
(Going to Hyperlink Properties shows the same path.) Note the two forward slashes.
5. I save all files in the project and click Generate Primary Layout (which is WebHelp). A dialog asks if I want to update <some file or other, but I can't see which one because that darned dialog box is too small, but I expect it's policy1.htm>.
6. I say No. The output is generated and I view it in Firefox. The link works and has a path in the status bar as:
<a href="file://J:/Documents/rest of folder path/RelDoc1.doc">Related Doc 1</a>
Note the three forward slashes.
7. I view the index.htm file in IE and it works.
As a variant of the above, instead of saying No when asked if I want to update the file, I say Yes.
1.The HTML of policy1.htm now shows the link as:
<a href="file:////server/rest of path/reldoc1.doc">Related Doc 1</a>
Note the four forward slashes again.
2. The link is as shown in the status bar of Firefox is now set to:
<a href="file:////server/rest of path/reldoc1.doc">Related Doc 1</a>
It doesn't work.
2. The same link shown in IE status bar has two forward slashes (even though the source has four), and it works.
So in answer to your question, the link definitely changes within RH. The two browsers deal with things differently, with IE seeing a file://// link as file://.
Incidentally, I did some research on the file:// protocol and came up with:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_Issues_:_Links_to_Local_Pages_Don%27t_Work
The answer seems to be:
1. Add the links within RH.
2. Don't update when generating output.
3. If possible, get users to use IE instead of FF.
Either way, it's not very satisfactory for my purposes.
Regards,
Roger

On click Image button links to extern. file - but then advances forward a slide....

I have an image button that On Success links to an extern. file - which is an index/glossary of a the project modules. However, when clicked, the project moves forward a slide. I would like the project to remain on the same slide when the 'Glossary/index' button is clicked, rather than advance forward. Anyone know how to achieve this?
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Hi and thanks very much for the response. I'm sure I'll be around here for a while on the forums as I've just started using Captivate!
As you say the button when clicked releases the playhead and the timeline advances to the next slide, which then pauses as I have 'next/back slide' buttons on each slide (sorry i didn't mean to imply it immediatley skips to the next slide).
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Dynamic link to external files

Is there a way to dynamically link to an external file?
Currently, when you link to a file, RH puts a copy of it in its
working directory and lists it as a Baggage File. Once that's done,
that file's dead; if the original file gets updated, I have to
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File version of the file. If the original file gets updated 30
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Is there a way to link to that always-evolving file and so
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I don't think this is built in to RoboHelp - I don't have the
latest version, though. I take it this file is not HTML. What type
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My first thought would be to make it always external but then
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find the correct path if it is installed in the same directory as
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Another option would be to have it edited while in your
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John

Dynamic linking of external file

I try to link to an external file, and display it as the text file from oracle report. The path is determined at runtime. I searched on the Oracle Report's Help and found a hint on SRW.SET_HYPERLINK(...), but I couldn't get it work. Please help.
Thanks, in advance, for your help.
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TD

To link to a file dynamically, you need to use the "read from file" property against a column in the data-model.
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How can client change link to external file in in-browser editing

Hi, I made a website for a client. It has links to pdf files. Obviously they can change the text, but how can they change the link to another pdf file. Thank you.

Sorry, this is not supported currently. Please vote for this idea: http://forums.adobe.com/message/5552091#5552091
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Links to External Files

RoboHelp X5, WebHelp
I have four hyperlinks (let's say, A, B, C, D) within my project to access external Excel spreadhsheets. A copy of the files is located in the project folder(the one on my desktop). When the project is published to the server, only two (A&B) of the four links work. To address the issue, I have to manually copy the Excel files to the server for the other links (C&D) to work.
I want to determine why RoboHelp copies some, and not all, of the Excel spreadsheets to the server. The settings for each of the hyperlinks appear to be identical, the only difference is that they're pointing to different files. Links A&B consistently work when the project is published; links C&D do not. What could be causing this issue?
Thank you,

Let's see here...
You are using X5... So you might be encountering the"Baggage Bug". Seems you have to manually edit one of the RoboHelp HTML project files for getting past that. I believe our wonderful Mr. Peter Grainge has something on his site about it. Lemme go see...
Ahhh yes, here it is.
Click here to read about it
Cheers... Rick
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Click here for Adobe Certified Captivate and RoboHelp HTML Training
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Link to external file doesn't show path

Hi,
a friend of mine has a problem with a CD that works fine for me.
Embedded in a pdf file are links to shockwave-Skripts. Clicking on the link should start the default Internet Browser.
I'm using Adobe Reader version 8.1.4. If I click on a link a warning about security issues is shown and I can read the file in question, including the path, starting with the Volume the CD is mounted in.
My friend is using a higher version of Adobe Reader (8.2.4) but the warning doesn't show the same: the path is missing - he only gets "firefox.exe", while I'm getting "C:\Programme\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" (German file structure, "Programme" equals "Program Files"). Clicking "Open" he gets a "file not found" message while my click opens the program like it is supposed to happen.
We couldn't figure out a difference in our settings, so there must be another solution how to get the paths into the opening procedure. Both of us are using Windows XP...
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Hi,
a friend of mine has a problem with a CD that works fine for me.
Embedded in a pdf file are links to shockwave-Skripts. Clicking on the link should start the default Internet Browser.
I'm using Adobe Reader version 8.1.4. If I click on a link a warning about security issues is shown and I can read the file in question, including the path, starting with the Volume the CD is mounted in.
My friend is using a higher version of Adobe Reader (8.2.4) but the warning doesn't show the same: the path is missing - he only gets "firefox.exe", while I'm getting "C:\Programme\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" (German file structure, "Programme" equals "Program Files"). Clicking "Open" he gets a "file not found" message while my click opens the program like it is supposed to happen.
We couldn't figure out a difference in our settings, so there must be another solution how to get the paths into the opening procedure. Both of us are using Windows XP...
Who knows more?

Link to external file

I have a table with field name LINK (varchar2(255)) with item on the form :P20_LINK. My intention is to store some kind of hyperlink to this field.
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Then the the content of item :P20_LINK will be filled with the complete path of the selected file, example: p:\operation\report\june2010.pdf
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I added this to the page HTML Header:
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w = open(url,"winLov","Scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=800,height=600");
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Is it possible to link and update external files in a Indesign document when sharing the Indesign file in Creative Cloud with multiple users?

I am new to Creative Cloud, but have been using Adobe software for many years.
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The Indesign file contains links to external files (one Illustrator and multiple .txt files); and we export the approved version to an Hi-Res PDF.
These .txt files are currently hosted on our internal server but have not been linked directly: we first copy them over to local desktop and update the links in Indesign before creating a new PDF.
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Adding a link to an external file into SQL table

I would like to add a link to an external file (picture stored on my local hard drive) into SQL table. Then use C# to query data from SQL table and export to Excel. I got everything working ok except the link to external file. I would like to export
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In that case the Filetable feature could be of interest to you. With this feature the file can be part of the database, and still be accessible from tools outside SQL Server.
I don't really have any good examples handy, but if anyone knows of a good blog post that could help Nhan, please feel free to add.
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External File Link not working

Having recently returned to RoboHelp after several years, I'm drawing on memory on how to link to external files (.doc, .xls, .pdf). I have created hyperlink in my document and while it does change appearance inline with a hyperlink (blue, bold, underline), when publishing to FlashHelp the link does not work (hand does not appear over hyperlink).
I have no doubt this is an easy question (and easily resolution!)

Hi there
Most usually this is a result of using Mark Of The Web (MOTW). MOTW inhibits links locally, but they work fine once you are on the server.
If you want to test locally to ensure they work as expected, generate your FlashHelp without MOTW.
Cheers... Rick
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I develop electronic technical manuals. With new version all links to external xml files in the manual go to top of file not to designated ID. Works fine in IE.

Links to external file in same directory does not go to proper location.
<pre><nowiki>ex:Link
<xref href="G00020-THRY-11-5840-390-23NP-510" inline="true" scilevel="no"
security="uc" show="replace" title="RADAR W6" xml:link="simple"
xrefentclass="xrefs"/>
Destination: in G00020-THRY-11-5840-390-23NP-V-1-0-0.xml in same directory. Goes to top of this file. All similar links are defective in same manner. Does not recognize id ie.-510
<row id="G00020-THRY-11-5840-390-23NP-510">
<entry>
<pcnarr>RADAR </pcnarr>
<extref href="77A586771_REV-E.pdf" refconrevccrugenentname="null"
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<entry>
<pcnarr>77A586771P1 </pcnarr>
</entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>77A580358 SHT 2 ZONE C7 </pcnarr>
<extref href="SCH_77A580325_REV-B.pdf" refconrevccrugenentname="null"
refconrevgenentname="null" title="RADAR ASSEMBLY"/></entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>77A580358 SHT 2 ZONE C6 </pcnarr>
<extref href="SCH_77A580325_REV-B.pdf" refconrevccrugenentname="null"
refconrevgenentname="null" title="RADAR ASSEMBLY"/></entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>COMMS/CTRL/DISCRETES </pcnarr>
</entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>P1/A2A2J19 </pcnarr>
</entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>P2/A1J6 </pcnarr>
</entry>
<entry>
<pcnarr>Point to Point : W6 connector P1 is mounted to the RPES bulkhead
J6 on the curbside under the maintainence platform. The P2 connector
is then routed to the AES bulkhead J19. </pcnarr>
</entry>
</row></nowiki></pre>

I figured it out.
I created the links in InDesign by making an interactive link to a file. When I open the file in Acrobat, the links work fine over the network. I burn to disk and the links no longer work.
Problem: At some point, InDesign changes the "open file" hyperlink command in InDesign into a URL webpage request in Acrobat.
Solution: So basically, I now have to go into the file in Acrobat and change all the buttons from "open web link" to "open file." It's only a product catalog with about 1,200 links that's due today.

Changing external links by baggaged files

Hello,
I'm a new user of RoboHelp.
I have generated a web help from a word document, correctly paginated, with titles and good styles.
In the word document, I have many links to external files, that can be displayed from the web help.
This works well, but the external files are link to a specific directory.
After generating this help, I would like the external files be embedded in the web help, so that they can be accessed from wherever.
So, I need to create baggaged files, and drop them to the link into the page.
Does it exist a way to generalise this action ? Because as I said previously, I've got many files to embeed in the web help.
Thanks a lot for your help,
Regards
Sylvain

Hi Sylvain and welcome to the RH community.
You have to point to a file (or files) you want to add as baggage. You can multi-select files when you add them but that is the extent of any generalisation.
Read the RoboColum(n) for a tips, tricks and musings on the Technical Communication Suite products.
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Relative Links to External Files in OS X

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