RoboHelp 9 Master Pages

My project is upgraded from RoboHelp 7 to RoboHelp 9
I found that when i preview topic, my header / footer images cannot be display, it is empty space, text is fine, whichever text inside a master pages can be display, only the header / footer images cannot be display
I am using master pages (previously template in RoboHelp 7)
I generate the chm file, it does not display the images for header / footer as well
This RoboHelp 9 is so much troublesome, anyone can give some help here
When i create new Master Pages, the body text in as below:-
This is Body Placeholder text for your Master Page. Topics created using this Master
Page will get this text by default. Replace text of this Body Placeholder with your
default content for topics.
"Area outside this Body Placeholder represents the layout of the Master Page which
will not be shown in the associated topics but will be present in the output."
TheBody Placeholder content will be replaced by actual topic content in the output.
Use Master Page to define the layout of your topic in the output.
For the text in double quote, my header / footer is outside the Body Placeholder, what it mean by will be present in the output? after generate the chm file?
I do not see my header / footer images eventhough i generate the chm file and open it

Hi, I have a similar problem after having updated from RH8 to RH9:
When generating the chm file, the logo in the header is not displayed. Both the logo-file and the hht-file is present in the project folder. Then I noticed the hht-file is not displayed in Project Set-up pod, and thougt this could be the problem. Then I tried to import the hht-file as a master page, but was not allowed to do this.
My temporary and very time consuming solution is to select all topics in the topic list, right-click and then select Properties, and then browse to the hht-file. I have to do this every time I re-open this help project. RH seems to forget the path.
Does anyone have a suggestion on what to do?

Similar Messages

How to give a relative path from a button in the master page header?

so I have this code in the header of my Master page in RoboHelp:
<input type="image" value="View graphics legend"
onclick="window.location.href='Graphics_legend.htm'"
src="Images\graphic legend.png" name="image1"
title="View graphics legend" style="width: 118px; height: 21px;" />
i need to call the 'Graphics_legend.htm' file which is sitting in the root folder. When i try this it works fine for the html file which are in the root folder as well, but anything with is in a sub directory , the button stops working.
It might be just to add a realtive path ,but i am failing to understand how to make a relative path for 'Graphics_legend.htm' ,.. ?

Hi there
Relative paths are relatively simple once you get the hang of them.
For example, if you want to refer to something that is one folder above where you are, you prefix things with ../
The ../ is HTML shorthand meaning one folder level above where I am. If you wish to go two folder levels up, ../../
If you need to drop into a folder that is at the same level as where you are, ../FolderName
From what you have written it would seem that RoboHelp isn't seeing your code and properly calculating the path. That's really not too surprising because you are using the Button element.
If you are using CSS and linking to a style sheet you likely have a simple way to calculate what the relative path should be. Just examine the source code of the topic and note what prefixes the CSS file name. Assuming your CSS is in the project root (and it should be) then you could use the same prefix.
Hopefully this helps... Rick
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Can't apply some master pages to topics

Hello,
I have already logged a bug report on this, but I am hoping that someone else has encountered it and has a suggested workaround. I have searched the forums, but I didn't see this issue. We recently upgraded to RoboHelp 8, and we have installed 8.0.1.
Our help projects typically include multiple master pages (formerly called "templates"). Most topics use the main master page, but a few need to use one of our other master pages that is geared toward a different type of user. Most of our projects have at least 3 master pages.
After conversion from X5 to RoboHelp 8, in some of our help projects, we cannot apply the lesser-used master pages to topics. We can right-click the topic name or within the Design window and open the Topic Properties, and we can select the correct master page, either from the drop-down list or by clicking the Browse button, and we can click Apply. Initially, the topic will show the master page as being selected; however, the header from that master page will not appear grayed out in the Design window for the topic as it should, and when you save and close the topic, the master page is no longer selected for it. This problem does not occur if I select the master page that is used for most topics; that one gets selected and applied correctly.
This problem has happened to me and to 2 of my coworkers. I got my problem topics and templates to work, but I tried many things repeatedly and cannot pinpoint what made the problem stop happening. I am currently trying to solve the problem in a coworker's project without success.
Things I have tried:
1. Deleting and reimporting the master pages that are not working. (When I do this, RoboHelp crashes.)
2. Comparing the code of the non-working master pages to the code of the master page that does work. I saw no problems.
3. Deleting the cpd file while the project was closed and then reopening.
4. Manually changing the tags that appear in the code of the topics to see if I can fool RoboHelp into recognizing the master page. I tried putting in the meta tag and header placeholder tags, but this did not work.
Has anyone run into this, and if so, have you found a workaround?
Thank you,
Tammy

This was our error, not RoboHelp's. After trying several different things yesterday, I compared the code of a working master page to that of a non-working master page once again. I discovered an error in some JavaScript, and when I removed the extraneous code, the template worked. I apologize for not finding this before posting! I did try several things before I posted.
Tammy

Exclude Master Pages From RH8 Search

Is there a way to exclude master pages from RH8 searches? There is no option in the Master Page properties as with topics.
What I did: I created a Master Page to add a "Download PDF version" link to the PDF version of the Help, in the same way that RJ Jacquez did in his "Web 2.0 Documentation using Adobe AIR and RoboHelp 8 OnDemand Recording" tutorial. The difference is that Jacquez's sample used an image as the link, while I used text.
Problem: "Download PDF version" is prepended to all search results (in the context line).
The obvious workaround is to replace the text with an image representation instead. But I thought I would ask the question about master pages and searches anyway.

Hi Jason
I think you misunderstood me. Note that Master Pages may be used in different ways.
They may be used as a starting off point for a topic. You create the topic, and much like a Word template, the Master Page partially builds the topic by having certain elements already in place. From there forward, you customize the topic to your needs. Subsequent changes to the Master Page have zero effect on any topics created from them.
They may also be used to configure a Header and a Footer. You then associate the Master Page with the Header, Footer or both to several or all topics to give the associated topics the Header or Footer information from the Master Page. In this case, subsequent changes to the Header or Footer in the Master Page DO actually appear in all associated topics.
I was talking about the latter option. I wasn't suggesting you move things into the HTML Head area of the topic.
Cheers... Rick
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How to create a variant of an existing master page

After struggling with this for an afternoon, I hit on a fairly simple way to duplicate and modified master page file, since RH8 doesn't seem to have a method for copying them, and editing certain sections is difficult.
In the Windows Explorer view (ie. NOT in the RH interface) create a copy of the file you want to base your new Master Page file from. If you are using source control, you'll need to make the copy read/write as well.
Rename the copy.
Open the copy in a text editor and change the topic title in both the <meta name="topic-comment" content="topic title" /> line and the <title> line. You should also change the reference to any icon art you may use. Save the new file.
Open the project in RoboHelp.
In the Project Set-up pod right click on Master Pages and click Import. Select your new master page and import it.
Hope this is helpful.
.MW

Hi Udit,
Unfortunately there is no way to copy a view from one component another the way we understand copy-paste. However, if your requirement is to reuse BP_DATA/AccountRelationshipsOV (or its copy you already created) in BP_HEAD, then you need to do the following:
In BP_DATA component:
1. Create a new window.
2. Add the copy to this new window in runtime repository editor.
3. Expose this new window from runtime repository editor.
In BP_HEAD component:
1. Declare a new usage for component BP_DATA, view (new window you create above)
2. Add the usage view to the concerned view area.
You also need to make sure that the context nodes are properly bound for the data flow.
Regards,
Shiromani
P.S. What was the runtime exception?

Placeholder for topic heading in master page?

RH9
If I create a new topic with no master page selected, then the topic title that I type into the New Topic dialog becomes the topic heading in the new topic. Is good.
If I create a new topic using a master page, how do I get the same result? What do I have to put into the master page as a variable or placeholder so that the new topic title becomes the topic heading?
Thank you.

Hi there
Edit your Master Page and focus the Body placeholder. Then at the top of it, click Insert > Fields and Variables... then choose Title and click OK. That should insert a Title variable into the topic. The last step would be to press Ctrl+Alt+1 to apply Heading 1 to the field.
After you do that your topic Title will always be reflected on the page.
Cheers... Rick
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RH 10: not use Master Page in Printed Docs

I have a Master Page set up with a company logo and horizontal rules, which works great with the help topics. The problem occurs when I generate printed docs from the source files.
Everything else works well enough to get by (I have some tweaking to do), BUT every single topic shows up with the rules and the company logo. I don't see anywhere to NOT apply the Master Page to the printed output. Is there a secret to not using the online help layout in the printed docs?
thanks,
Alia

Master page headers and footers 100% guaranteed do not survive the trip to printed documentation. My guess is that in the master page your "headers" and "footers" have been created in the body section of the master page.
Create a new topic attaching that master page in the process. Then unlink the master page from that topic. Do you still see the header and footer? If you do, my theory is proved. If you do not, post back.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Get error message and it removes Master Page from Topic

I get the following message sometimes when I edit a topic but definitely don't get near the header or footer. Then as soon as I save the topic, I lose my Master Page connection to it. And I have to go into Properties for that topic and pick the master page again!! This started one day after using RoboHelp HTML for a month. Does anyone else have this problem?

Hello again
Hmmm, wasn't exactly what I'd hoped to see. I can't really tell much from the image. Looks like it's an image of a topic and not the Master Page?
Here's the deal. The only time you should be seeing the message you first posted is if you have a Master Page with a Header or Footer area defined. You then edit a topic where something causes the Header or Footer to change. The change to the Header or Footer is what triggers the message.
As you say you aren't changing anything in the Header or Footer area, this suggests whatever is being used in the Header or Footer area is triggering the notification. That's why I'm interested in exactly what you have in the Master Page.
Cheers... Rick
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Master Page Bugs? Won't Update Changes or Apply New Page Correctly.

I've been working with master pages for our new project templates and have found what appears to be several big problems:
1. When I make changes in the Master Page (.htt file), none of those changes propogate to the topics that have been assigned this same Master Page. Shouldn't it do this?
2. As an alternative, I tried applying a Master Page to multiple topics in the Topic List pod. The first problem with that is that you cannot apply the existing Master Page. So, I had to create a fresh Master Page with my changes, then tried applying it. However, several problems occur. Firstly, none of the new Master Page formatting appears correctly. Secondly, for some reason it is duplicating breadcrumbs at the top of the page (each of the Master Pages, before and after only had one breadcrumb). It seems to have combined some of the formatting from both before and after Master pages.
I should also note that when I apply the Master Page with any changes to a new topic, it does work correctly.
I have read the documentation thoroughly and feel I am doing this correctly. The problem seems to be that the functionality doesn't work as promised. I see this as a grave problem. Our templates are likely to change with time, and I need the ability to apply changes en masse.
Does anyone know what might be the problem?

Hi there
First, you must understand that Master Pages are used in two completely different ways. Sounds like you are making changes to the Body Placeholder of the Master Page and expecting to see those changes influence the topics linked. Sorry, but that has never worked.
So here are the two ways Master Pages are designed to work in RoboHelp.
Method 1 - Used to infuence EXISTING content.
Perhaps you have created 1,000 topics and you now wish to add a Header, Footer or both to these existing topics. You define a Master Page and add a Header, Footer or both to the Master Page and You associate it with the topics. All those topics now have a Header and/or Footer. Any changes to the Header and/or Footer are populated across all linked topics.
Method 2 - Used to influence NEW content you create.
Perhaps you know that you will be creating many topics that should have the same look and feel. Maybe each of them begin with a table containing an image and some text. So you define a Master Page and configure the Body placeholder as you wish to see it. When you create new topics, you point to the Master Page so that as the topics are created, the Body content of the Master Page is populated into the topic as a starting off point. Once the topic has been initially created, changes to the Master Page ARE NOT reflected in the topics. This works identically to making a copy of a document. The copy looks identical to the original. And any changes to the original will never be copied over to the copy. Only NEW copies will receive the changes.
As far as the Breadcrumbs go, you likely have GLOBAL Breadcrumbs enabled in the Single Source Layout recipe. This means that every topic gets Breadcrumbs during the process of creating the output. If you are trying to employ SELECTIVE Breadcrumbs by adding the PlaceHolder to the Master Page, you need to disable the GLOBAL Breadcrumbs in order to prevent seeing double.
Hope this helps a bit... Rick

Applying Changes to Master Pages

Is there any way to apply a change to a master page to a topic that is already linked to that master page? I tried removing the link, making the change to the master page, and then re-linking the topic, but it the "old" version of the master page gets applied. I also tried making a change to the master page and then using the Apply To All feature when generating, but again, the version applied is the "old" master page.

Hello again Paul
Okay, so the fact you are referring to them as Master Pages would seem to imply you are using RoboHelp 8. When you edit a Master Page in this version you note that there are "Placeholders" on the page. There is a Placeholder for the Body text. You may also add other Placeholders as well as Headers and Footers.
If you inserted the button bar inside the Body placeholder, it would only be related to topics you created using the Master Page as a template. If you later changed this in some way, for example removing or adding a button, it would only be reflected in topics you later created after making the change. Topics created prior to the change will be unfazed.
You can change this behavior by inserting the element just above the Body Placeholder. When content is outside the Placeholder, it gets copied to any topic associated with the Master Page.
As for RoboHelp being "helpful" and leaving the code alone, you are on your own with that. Trial and error will tell you whether RoboHelp will clobber the changes to the code. About the only way to ensure that doesn't happen is by using some custom JavaScript to "write in" the desired code.
Cheers... Rick
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Master Pages on Merged Projects

Hi All
I'm evaluating RH and looking to create webhelp for 17 apps (part of suite a la Microsoft Office). There will be many related items that cross child projects. i set up the master, create one child, generated and merged and all went great. What I can't figure out is Master Pages
Is there a way to have the Master Page (inc CSS) apply to all chaild projects? If not, it would mean that any style change would need to be done 17 times, which seems a bit cumbersome.
If not, is there a way to use my master project to create a template for the child?
Regards
mark

Each project is quite separate and the only visual part that is controlled by the parent is the skin. The parent skin will be displayed for all topics no matter which child they are in except when the child output is opened independently.
In theory you could put the CSS in Resource Manager then when you change it in one project the theory is you can update it back to the Resource Manager so that on opening any other project you get warned it is no longer in sync and you can correct that. That is the theory but I haven't tested it works with CSS files in the same way as when using images.
Resource Manager does not offer Master Pages as an option. I think the easy workaround would be to make sure the Master Page has an identical name in all projects and then copy them while the projects are closed.
To start the child projects get one set up and close it. Then just use Windows copy and paste to create the copies. Open each one and use File > Rename Project.
Did I refer you to my pages on Merged Help? If not take a look there as it should help you at this stage of the game.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Master Pages / Sync topic list and Project Manager

Hi,
Is there an easier way to see if I've applied my Master page to all my topics rather than right-clicking and checking Properties for each topic? No indication of a Master page shows up in my topic list and there isn't a report I saw to identify this. What I have in my Master page is code so it would not be apparent by looking at output.
Also, is there a way to sync the highlighting within RH to the topic I'm working on. For example, if I'm working in a topic and it's highlighted in my topic list, the same topic isn't highlighted in the Project Manager?
Thanks very much,
Sue

Hi there
If you look at the Topic List pod you should be able to see a column labeled Master Page.
Click image below for larger view.
If you don't see this column, you might need to scroll the scroll bar to the right. Note also that you may drag the column header to place it next to the Topic name if you like. Also, you may need to right-click the column headers in order to enable the Master Page.
Cheers... Rick
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Master Pages: how to achieve more advanced layouts?

I've wrapped my head around Master Pages in the past few weeks, but now that I'm trying to get more advanced with layout options, my goals seem to beyond any resources I can find to give me guidance. What I want to achieve is pretty simple. I'm trying to benchmark some of the design that I like from Adobe Help. Here are four things I want to achieve, with the following link as a visual reference:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/robohelp/robohtml/WS0165E923-AD7A-4695-85C8-C6E7AB841171.html# WS2D5E01D8-46F3-4993-937C-2F1D2910E43D
1. How can I place the topic title at the top of the page, as it appears in the link above (e.g. "Master Pages" that appears below breadcrumbs). Is there anything in RH like the variables or building blocks in FM (e.g. <$chapnum>) that would allow me to insert it in HTML view or use some similar method?
2. I would like to adjust the indentation of my Topic TOC, but without bullets or numbering. If you choose "No List Style" in the "Format Placeholder" dialogue box, the options to adjust Indent and Spacing parameters disappear. Is there any workaround that you know of?
3. Is there a way to create pop-up links or interactive functionality like the "Was this helpful button.?" in the link example above? Can I just tinker around in the code view using HTML, CSS, and js to achieve results similar to this example? I would like to create some type of feedback mechanism for our users.
4. I've managed to emulate some of the borders or lines on my master page by inserting HTML in HTML view. But I wonder if there is a compelling reason to instead manage this in CSS? Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Douglas

The topic title is normally at the top of the page. If you mean you want the breadcrumbs above it, then add a placeholder for the breadcrumbs in the header of the master page associated with the topic, then the title will drop down below that.
Put the Topic TOC in a table with a narrow first column?
Probably with some scripting. Pass on that one.
If you update a master page linked to a topic, only header and footer updates show. Test that. If it fails, then you have your reason for using CSS.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Is it possible to define master page usage for a linked project?

Hello again!
I feel like I'm spamming this forum with all my questions, but I seem to be having a difficult time trying to find information on FM/RH integration.
Is there a way to define which master pages are assigned to the topics linked to FM files?
I don't really want to do this individually for each topic (I only have 2 master pages: one for the intro page and another for all other topics).
Even so, when I map a FM file manually to a RH master page, I get a warning message stating that any changse to the topic will be overwritten on the next FM file update.
Any ideas?
Thanks again.
Sue

Hi Sue
I'm a RoboHelp user and a big ole Frame ignoramous. So what I'm about to tell you comes from the RoboHelp perspective.
SueC2009 wrote:
...I don't really want to do this individually for each topic (I only have 2 master pages: one for the intro page and another for all other topics)...
Indeed it would be VERY cumbersome if you had to associate a Master Page on a topic by topic basis. The good news here is that you have an ability in RoboHelp to select as many topics as you like and only make the association a single time.
Just open the Topic List pod. There you are able to select all topics by pressing Ctrl+A. From there you are then able to associate the desired master page.
Cheers... Rick
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Master Page Saving problem

I use Master Pages in my help file. I also like to automatically save documents on closing. If a master page is being used, I get an additional dialog box to click each time I close a document asking if I want to save changes to the master page. Normally, what I do changes nothing on the master page, but I have to click this dang dialog box anyway. And since I haven't made any changes to the Master Page, the message in the dialog box is very confusing. Is there any way to get rid of this PITA query?

Hi Margaret
Margaret Becker wrote:
...Since I removed the link to our website from the footer, this problem has gone away...
You might want to try creating a variable to store the URL. Then insert the variable into the footer. Configure the variable to link to the site.
Cheers... Rick
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RoboHelp 9 Master Pages

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