RoboHelp / RoboSource Control issue
We are authoring a large manual using Adobe RoboHelp 7 HTML
and RoboSource Control.
Occasionally, we are confronted with a situation that project
files are NOT checked in properly.
Example:
Day 1: Updating the manual. All files are checked in. No
error or other messages.
Day 2: When opening the project, some files are flagged as
being checked out.
When trying to check in these files in RoboHelp 7 HTML,
RoboHelp responds that those files are NOT checked out, so
apparently something is corrupt.
When we turn to RoboSource Control, we can undo the checkout,
but this is a very tedious job, since it can only be done on
individual files. The only other alternative is to start out with a
new database, but this also means that we're removing all our
version info.
We are unable to recreate this situation, but we have this
feeling that it occurs when files have been checked out for a
longer period of time.
Is there a known issue concerning the above?
Hi hermie1, and welcome to the board! Sometimes when you do a
checkin all, RoboSource Control will stumble over one of the files
and silently terminate the checkin process. For this reason, it's a
good idea to do a Checkin All prior to closing the project. Then
take a look to make sure that nothing remains checked out. Also, be
sure to click the Refresh Status icon in the toolbar. I have found
myself trying to check in files that were already checked in, just
because my list wasn't up to date!
That is the simple situation, easily remedied. Your situation
may be more complex. If something is corrupt, the usual culprit is
the cpd file. You might try rebuilding it. (Back up your project
first.)
For future reference, this topic would be better placed in
the RoboSource Control forum, so as to assist anyone searching for
related information.
G
Similar Messages
-
We use RoboSource server in our installation here. We
recently moved our files and server to a different physical
machine. I've gotten everyone moved to the new server and gotten
the latest files down for the project they work on. Out of 5
machines I am having trouble with one in particular. When the user
opens RoboHelp Office, it prompts him to get the latest version
from source control. He says yes. During the get he gets an "Error,
unknown exception. Please contact RoboSource Control Technical
Support" Incredibly descriptive error by the way. All operation
seem to work fine, and he does seem to have teh latest version of
any files. Anyone know what might cause this error?
UPDATE: I have narrowed the problem down to a file. There is
one htm file that is causing the error. I cannot find anything in
particular that is wrong with the file. If I select every file to
get latest, it gives the error. If I select every file then
deselect the one file, everything is fine. I have deleted the file
along with it's history from source control, and added it back. I
still get the same error.
Thanks,
StoneyHi Stoney M;
Not sure if this will make a difference, but ran into similar
issues just yesterday...where we could get the project to download
the most current files just fine on one PC and not on
another...turned out we were defining the locally work directory at
the root level of C: - once we went to a directory under 'my
documents' everything worked fine. Not sure if it is a security
issue on our end or a robohelp/robosource control issue - but
something to consider. kt -
Does Adobe RoboSource Control provide a facility of access restriction on the WebHelp output?
I need to publish a WebHelp document that can be accessed only by a specific group of people.
In order to ensure that only the specificied group of people access the document, can it be restricted by aligning it with individual user ID/pwd? Is there any facility provided by RoboHelp/RoboSource Control to restrict access through individual User ID / password?
- If yes, how can it be implemented?
- If not, is there any other alternative?
Some direction would be really helpful. Thank you!RoboSourceControl is just a source control application. It certainly does not have the sort of functionality you require. Neither would any source control application. You have some options though.
Publish your WebHelp to location that can be secured to a specific group of people. Your IT people can help here.
Purchase a RoboHelp Server licence and output WebHelp Pro rather than WebHelp. RoboHelp Server allows you to restrict access to users with a userid / password.
If PDF is an option, output to that and secure the PDF file to those with the supplied password. -
Unable to manually add topics to TOC in RoboHelp 11 when working with RoboSource Control 3.1
Hello,
I am working on RoboHelp11 and using RoboSource Control 3.1. I am facing an issue while making an attempt to manually add new topics to the TOC (drag and drop), the error alert ' 'xxxxxx.hhc cannot be multiply Checked out' and further the alert 'The files in the list below could not be checked out from Version Control. Exclusive access to these files is required to execute the selected action.' appears. Note that the said project file is checked out only by me and no else in the team has checked it out from source control..
Can someone provide guidance on how to resolve this issue.I am having this same problem.
Updated itunes to 7.0 on my pC
Updated 30GB Video ipod's firmware...
Cound no longer manually sync files to ipod...
Files start uploading..
Then 1/2 way through the procedure, itunes says something Like "Updating ipod please wait"
and a few seconds later just stops with the upload.
I cant find the uploaded files on the ipod.
I tried updating itunes to 7.01 - no luck
I tried restoring my ipod - no luck
I tried resetting my ipod - no luck
I tried manually syncing my ipod on a computer with an older version of itunes and everything
works okay!!!
So the problem is with itunes 7.0 on the PC
Please fix this ASAP !!!
-gs- -
RoboHelp hangs at startup and using robosource control
Hi everybody,
I am relatively new to this forum. I have been using RH X5.02
now for a few months.
|'m quite pleased with it until now and find all postings
here very useful.
So I was content until last monday when I returned from a
holiday of 10 days.
Normally I start RH by clicking a link to RoboHTML.exe from
my desktop.
Instead of asking me which of my projects to open I got
ZILCH.
RH just hangs, the only way to stop is to use task manager to
end the process.
The same happens when I want to add a project to version
control.
the icons of my 'Most recently used file list' (Tools -
Options - General) contain a big red question mark.
I can't remember seeing that before.
Based on previous postings I unchecked 'Save without prompt'.
This didn't change anything.
I did experiment installing PushOK CVS SCC NT interface (v
2.1.1.2) to be able to use the Turtoise CVS version control system
which seemed to work OK.
I didn't decide to use the PushOK and Turtoise system yet,
but kept on using RoboSource control. I didn't uninstall the PushOK
interface as I wanted to do an extra test on our central Turtoise
CVS system later.
I had to renew the trial license for PushOK's software when I
came back. This came up when I started RoboHTML the first time
after my holiday.
As I suspected that this extra interface could have something
to do with my problems I uninstalled and reinstalled all software,
without reinstalling the PushOK software. I did take the projects
out of version control before I uninstalled everything.
I expected to have no problems after all this, but to my
surprise it didn't change anything.
I suspect it has to be something in the registry and/or the
project files themselves.
I am working on several RH HTML-projects at the 'same time',
switching from one into another. All projects are (or were) in
RoboSource control.
I'm working on a Dell laptop using Windows XP Professional
which is automatically updated to latest versions. Yes, all files
are installed locally on the laptop, including the files in
RoboSource Control.
We use NOD 32 virus scanning software.
Can anybody shine some light on this
situation?
tks, PaulHi Peter,
I'm sorry, I left out an important piece of info: when I
start RH from the file manager by clicking a RH project it will
start.
I also made a shortcut in whit a project-file to open: no
problem starting.
So I can work and I can open a new project with no problems.
Problem starts as soon as I try to add the project to Version
Control.
I checked all processes and services on my computer. Made
sure all PushOK and CVS software was not installed.
RoboSourceControl was not able to see alternative SCC drivers
to use anymore.
The problems stay.
I can work, if I avoid version control. So I uninstalled
RoboSourceControl too.
Menu's in RH are adjusted and of course I don't have the
hangup problem either
I still can't just start the RH exec without specifying a
starting project. It will just freeze.
If you or anybody else have other suggestions I would be
really gratefull, because I want to use the version control.
tks -
Unable to add a Project File in RoboSource Control
Hi this is Savana Chandra Shekhar,
I am working on RoboHelp 9 with RoboSource Control 3.
Scanario 1: There are two users who want to work on the same project file from different location using RoboHelp and using version control 3. we have a server located in US and i myself located in India. Now, when i am trying to add or load the Project file in Robosource, i am unable to load or add the project file as the file size is around 160 MB.
Scanario 2: When i am using "add to version control" option after setting up the connection (By Proving : Connection Name, Server, Port No., Port Type), i am getting the as displayed below. Please refer the Image attached.
I will be greatful to you if you can please provide some firm solution regarding this issue.
Thanks
Savana Chandra Shekhar
Database: MARSHelpSource
to database,I can. This is a bug you are seeing we will have fixed in a future release. You are working in a "Local" form (not an online form) and that "Add submit button" should not be shown at all, that is only for an online form. If you move your form online when signed in, then it would have a Submit button automatically in Web View and in Page View would be able to be turned on and off.
Thanks,
Josh -
Errors when try to start RoboSource Control 3.1
I was just issued a new desktop PC (Windows 7 SP1, 64 bit) at work. I have had to reload all of my software including AdobeTCS 3.5.
After installing TCS 3.5, Adobe RoboSource Control 3.1 is a separate folder under the main Adobe folder (Program FIles (x86) > Adobe > Adobe RoboSource Control 3.1). So it should be "installed."
I have also downloaded the RoboSource 64 bit fix and copied it into the Adobe RoboSource Control 3.1 folder (renaming the original version of the file).
Note that RoboSource Control Server is installed on a separate server machine.
When I click RSO3Explore.exe to start the app, I first get a message that the Publisher cannot be verified (I select Run), and then I get the message that "RSO3 Explorer Component has stopped Working" and then "RSO3 Middle Tier Server Component has stopped Working". I am forced to close the program.
In Task Manager > Processes, I have 2 instances of "RSO3MiddleTierService.exe *32" running.
In Task Manager > Services, I have no instance of "RSO3MiddleTierService.exe *32" running.
When I run services.msc, I see no instance of any RoboHelp service running.
I don't know what's wrong..... has anyone else using RoboSource Control seen this problem?
Thanks!Problem resolved by reinstall.
-
Qs About SQL Server and RoboSource Control
Hi. I have two questions:
(1) Will the SQL Server Compact edition work as the db used
for RoboSource Control? I know that it has a limit of 4 GB.
(2) Do I have to install a copy of RoboHelp (and, thus, of
the RoboSource Server Configuration Utility) onto the network
server where my SQL database is located, or can I configure the SQL
database remotely from one of the client machines?
Thanks!Hi. Yes, you are correct that the "RSC Server" is really just
a SQL db that you have modified using the RSC Database
Configuration tool.
We are working on a client project from several
locations--some people are at the client site sometimes, some
people are at home sometimes, and some people are at our company
site sometimes. The client software that we are documenting
requires us to be connected to the client VPN if we are not at the
client site. However, we would like to store the RH files on our
company server, which can be VPN'd into from either our client site
or from home.
Apparently the VPNs will pass the IP/HTTP protocols that
SQL/RSC uses. What we'd have to do is log into the company VPN (if
necessary) at the beg of the day, use the "offline" feature of RSC
to check out the documents, and then log off the company VPN and
onto the client VPN to access the software we are documenting. Then
reverse the process at the end of the day or whenever.
However, our company doesn't want to install SQL on our
storage machine which is just a file server. And we don't want to
store it on the client site, either. (We're just documentation and
training, after all, not real software developers.)
One alternative to using RSC is to use merged projects, since
each tech writer will only be working on one section of the
documentation at a time. However, I'm concerned about context
sensitivity and merged projects. I found a good discussion where
one of the Peters (the two gurus on here who are named Peter) gave
an extensive description of how to do CS with merged projects.
However, someone reported that they couldn't get it to work using
RH7.
As a relatively novice (though technically inclined) user, I
would like to avoid the issues with merged projects and CS.
Therefore, I think what I'm going to do is store the RSC server on
my local machine and check out the documents for tech writers
myself, then check them back in when the writer is done.
I'm testing today and I will report back on my results.
Thanks for your responsiveness and let me know if you have
any opinions on this!
HKB -
Unraveling slow RoboSource performance issues
Greetings all,
I am a Robo-noob (noobie, novice, etc) though not new to
computers and databases and such. We have a team of 5 writers all
working on separate projects but under the same RoboSource version
control. We are experiencing some serious performance issues:
projects can take over an hour to check out or in; not all users
can see projects; "rename" doesn't get rid of the old rather makes
a copy under the new name(?); etc.
I am trying to baseline "normal" behavior for RoboSource
Control as well as some best practices for multiple users. I am
wondering if there is something more in depth to describe the
RoboSource control engine, and possibly maintenance tasks to help
what appears to be a jumble of nodes that are not all necessary,
too many 'admin' users, etc. I expect that "cleanup" will solve a
lot of our problems.
So, rather than go into each problem in the forum, I would
prefer to find good resource and tackle this thing iteratively.
Thanks for any useful suggestions
DonHi Don
From what you posted, it would seem to indicate each of the 5
help authors are "captiain of their own ship" so to speak, and are
only responsible for their individual projects. So why the use of
RoboSource control? Why even introduce this layer of complexity in
the mix? What does it offer you need?
I really wish I had some nifty advice here about what to do.
But I tend to only show folks how to access RSC in the classes I
teach. To be very honest, if it were me, I'd probably opt for using
something like Microsoft Visual Source Safe. And I actually have
used VSS with RoboHelp in the past. Long before RoboHelp offered
any "integration" or its own RSC.
I'm not saying RSC is a "bad" product here. Only that there
seem to be far more issues reported with it than there are answers.
And performance is certainly among the cited issues. I'm sure you
may well have your reasons for using it (or any other product for
that matter) but based on what little we know at this point, it
would seem overkill.
Sincerely... Rick -
Hello.
I am using RH10 and need to set up Source Control - it doesn't have to be RoboSource Control but the company I contract for is moving away from SharePoint so I can't use that. Any advice on this area will be gratefully received.
I think I understand correctly that I need to ask a DB or Technical Support expert to set up an SQL database for me. That should hopefully prove to be straightforward.
However, when I currently open the Connection List in RH10 (File > Version Control > Add To Version Control), I can only see a connection to SharePoint. There is no Create button to enable me to add a new link for when the new database is set up for me.
Can anyone advise what I need to do to get this working as described in the RH10 Online Help?
Thanks.
PhilipHi,
Adding RoboHelp to source control requires a little more work, since you need to install the correct components to make everything work together. What you need to do depends on the source control system you want to use. You can find instructions for several source control systems on: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/robohelp.html
On which system to choose, I recently answered a similar question. I can't find the post anymore, but here was my answer. I hope this gets you started. Please post back if you have any further questions.
With source control, the easiest option is usually the best. Here are the three global options:
Use SharePoint for version control: This is very easy to set up and if you are a SharePoint administrator you don't need any IT guys helping out. This is by far the simplest way to go.
You will need SharePoint 2010 or 2013. SharePoint 365 doesn't work.
If you have SharePoint there is no additional cost involved.
Use RoboSourceControl: This is the source control system included in RoboHelp itself.
It works rather well, but it is a pain to set up. You need a database (and a server to host that) and connect every team member to the source control system.
You will require the support of an IT guy. I normally advise against this system because it is so problematic to set up.
There is no additional cost for this option.
Use the source control system your developers use. If your developers use a source control system that support the Microsoft SCC API, you can use that source control system.
The advantage of these systems is that they are generally more rubust than SharePoint, they are optimized for speed and they offer many advanced features that SharePoint lacks such as check in policies, integration with issue trackers, reports, etc.
The knowlegde of this system is already in house so no consulting will be required for this side.
You will need the support of the manager of the source control system and most likely also the support of an IT guy.
You will be able to get a complete version of a project from a specific label/date/etc at once. With SharePoint you can only get older versions of individual files.
Depending on your licensing structure, this option may require more additional licenses.
My advise is to choose for either SharePoint or the source control your developers use. Your management might prefer to have all content in a single repository and so choose the third option. In any way, backups will be made centrally and you will have the capability of comparing files between different versions.
If you want to quickly get older versions and have advanced reports on check in history, number of changes, etc. Than the third option is the way to go. If you only need older versions of single files and you want to get it done tomorrow, go for SharePoint.
You can always later change the source control system you use. But you will lose all history if you do this.
Please note that comparing files may require an additional free tool such as WinMerge (http://winmerge.org/)
Kind regards,
Willam -
RoboSource Control 3 Explorer - Admin access and adding users
Just started in a department where users working with RoboHelp HTML 7 are connected to a Windows XP PC on which RoboSource Control 3 Explorer is being used for version control. The two guys who set up the system are no longer available. I have the login for one of them, but do not know if he was the Admin or a subadmin in RoboSource Control. When I go to Admin>User Library, I get the following screen.
- None of the users show any rights checked. - That's the first problem.
- Is there any way that I can determine if the login I'm using is the real Admin? Does the fact that I have access to the User Library tell me anything about this?
- When I try to add a user, I get the error message "Error - you have insufficient rights to perform this operation."
- I need to be able to add users and have Admin level control. If the login I have is from the actual Admin, then I might be okay. But if not, am I out of luck? If that's the case, is my only option to take the following steps?
1. Have a user check out all the project files.
2. Disassociate those files from the RoboSource Control machine. (There are hundred of topics in the project files.)
3. Set up a new RoboSource Control with myself as the Admin.
Thanks!Umm, I'm not sure if it's the same issue, but recently all user rights for every single user in the user library (including the admin) went missing much like yours. I know for a fact that my user profile had admin rights, but at that time, no rights were checked for any user. (The admin user will have, if I'm correct, all the rights selected).
I still don't know what caused the issue, but a simple restart of the server that hosts RoboSource Control was enough to restore permissions in our case. Maybe you could try that and see if the restart helps? Considering that the alternative is setting up a new RSC database, I would think it's worth a shot
- Richa -
RoboSource Control Server 3.1 on Windows Server 2008 64-bit?
I was wondering if anyone has had any success running the RoboSource Control (Server) on Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit. I experienced two dialog boxes near the end of the install.
Item has already been added. Key in dictionary: '_reserved_lastInstallerAttempted'
Key being added: '_reserved_lastInstallerAttempted'
and
The installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package. This may indicate a problem with this package. The error code is 2869.
Then, it backs out all the changes it has made, and exits the installer. At least it fails gracefully ...
The reason why I ask this is mostly due to the fact that Windows Server 2008 R2 is ONLY issued in 64-bit editions. There will be no more 32-bit editions.Although this post is three years old, I am getting the same problem now (June 2012) trying to install either the Client or Server components on a Windows 7 64-bit system. If anyone out there knows of a solution to this, I'd appreciate a reply.
-
Checking in a Compiled Help File to RoboSource Control
We're getting ready to upgrade from RoboHelp X3 to X5 and
begin using RoboSource Control. I have X5 and RSC installed on a
test machine and noticed that RoboHelp HTML doesn't appear to
automatically check in a newly compiled .chm file when I close that
particular help project. This leads me to believe that the only way
to check in a newly compiled .chm file is to do so manually from
within the RoboSource Control explorer program. Could someone
please confirm this or, if I'm mistaken, describe how to configure
RoboSource Control/RoboHelp HTML to automatically check in the .chm
file?
Thanks!RoboSource Control manages all files which are part of a
RH-project. The compiled CHM is not consiodered part of the
project. Considering that the source control system allows for
rollbacks and would have to maintain (nearly) all your compiled
files to do so, this method makes sense.
Greetings
---Dirk Bock -
Which should we use: TFS or RoboSource Control?
We have two authors working on one project. Our dev team uses TFS. I don't have a preference for which source control solution we use, I just want it to be easy to work on our topics. From the search I've done, it looks like both are accessed from within RoboHelp, but I'm not 100% on that.
Why should I pick one solution over the other?Hi,
You can use both Source Control systems. If your developers are already using TFS, it might be easier to use that too. For RoboSource control you need to create a new database on a server and connect to that. Why bother if you already have TFS ready to use? Personally, I use TFS because the developers wanted me to use the same source control system as them. Before that I used VSS, but either worked for me. I suspect it will be the same for most other source control systems.
For more info on using RoboSource control, see: http://www.adobe.com/devnet-archive/robohelp/articles/robosource.html
For more info on using TFS, see: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/robohelp/articles/robohelp-tfs-integration.html
Greet,
Willam -
Visual Source Safe or RoboHelp Source Control
I have never used VSS, but I have used RH Source Control. I can't find any clear cut answer to my current question. Do all the features like securing help based on security roles defined by the company, Merge Help and Multiple Authors per project/topic work the same in VSS or is this just a feature of RH Source Control?
My current client has VSS and I'm not sure they would want to purchase RH Source Control unless I come up with a really good reason for this.Hi there
Many are confused by the subtle differences. You are absolutely correct in your statement of:
VSS and RH Source Control are just version control, nothing more, correct?
But your initial post comingled things by asking:
Do all the features like securing help based on security roles defined by the company, Merge Help and Multiple Authors per project/topic work the same in VSS or is this just a feature of RH Source Control?
The features you asked about apply to RoboHelp Server. RoboHelp Server is a product that is totally different from RoboSource Control or VSS.
I'm guessing here that maybe you unintentionally stated RoboSource Control and meant instead to say RoboHelp Server?
RoboSource Control = Source Control and is included with RoboHelp at no additional fee.
RoboHelp Server = Separately purchased Adobe software that must be installed on a computer that is also functioning as a Web Server.
RoboHelp Server provides merging. You just publish any number of outputs and the server handles merging things to present to the end user as a single, unified system. But keep in mind that basic RoboHelp is capable of creating a Merged output that will function in the same way.
RoboHelp Server 8 provides an ability to "secure" or restrict viewing of certain folders of content by restricting access to specific users. Keep in mind that the same thing is possible on any web server and has been for years. RoboHelp Server 8 probably provides some easy interface in the application that allows you to do it without getting a web developer involved. I'm not 100% sure on that. Hopefully my buddy John Daigle (the RoboHelp Server GuRu) will chime in here to clarify.
RoboHelp Server 8 also provides a search function that allows indexing and looking inside Word and PDF files. Then again, basic WebHelp output also offers this capability.
Reporting and tracking. RoboHelp Server 8 provides nice pretty graphs and charts so that you can see that topic A was opened 500 times and topic B was opened twice. Therefore topic B must not be useful so you can delete it. (just being silly here) Then again, you may also use Google Analytics to obtain the same information with a few lines of code.
The big question is to examine what RoboHelp Server brings to the game. If you need the features and are willing to pony up the additional cost involved and you are also willing to deal with the ensuing additional layer of complexity, by all means go for it. I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. I'm only pointing out the possibilities here. Choosing is up to you.
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links
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