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LynnHomsi66
Participating Frequently
May 14, 2013
Question

Create a framemaker project using output folders

  • May 14, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 842 views

Hello,

I have the complete Online Help. It's one folder that consists of subfolders for each book in the table of a contents that contain the HTML files relating to that book, the css and the images.I need to update these files but I don't have the project source.

Can I take this one folder and create a framemaker project? Will it keep the images and cross-references?

If not, is there any way I can create a project using this? This folder is all I have to go off of, and I'm really stuck.

Thanks a lot!

Ps. I do have the Weborks project source that contains all these files, if this will help me create a project where I can update the help.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Van Kurtz
    Van Kurtz
    Inspiring
    May 14, 2013

    If you have a working set of HTML files, that is, you can open them with a browser and they all work fine, then use an HTML editor (Dreamweaver?) and edit the files directly. I have no knowledge of RoboHelp, but maybe you can edit them directly in RoboHelp.

    To me, it seems a lot of work to get them back(?) into FrameMaker just to make some changes. If you have an app to edit HTML files, there seems no reason to convert them to something else.

    Van

    RoboColum_n_
    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    May 14, 2013

    If you absolutely can not find the source files there are ways you maybe able to use the output files. First question is, do you know which application was used to create the help? It wasn't FrameMaker. If you don't, things could get tricky. If you open up one of the HTM files in Notepad, this may give you a clue. Second question - do you have to use FrameMaker or could the original application used to create the help do. Let us know and we'll go from there.

    L
    LynnHomsi66Author
    Participating Frequently
    May 14, 2013

    I was told it was made in Framemaker, then it was put into Webworks to process and make the output.

    There are FM source projects but it's not for the whole online help, only parts. When I open them, I get a messgae there are missing files and cross-references; and images are grey boxes (I've never worked with FM so this could or could not be normal). I don't care which Online Help software to use, I just want it to work. Other than Framemaker, I have Robohelp and MadCap Flare. I use Flare for other online help, so I'm familiar with that...

    I could try the reverse engineering robohelp and see what that gives, but I think it was made in FM.

    When I opened in NotePad, I saw "Webworks" several times in the code.

    Thank you both for your help.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 14, 2013

    When you say "it's not for the whole online help, only parts." are you referring to additional content being added or merged in with Webworks or do you think there were more FM files involved in the creation of the content?

    The missing files & busted xrefs messages would be normal if the FM content had been moved around from its original creation location. This can probably be repaired if you can track down the missing files and graphics.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 14, 2013

    How were the HTML pages created? If they came via RH, then you can perform a "reverse engineering" on them to get a workable RH project, but I don't know if creating a FM doc and importing HTML into it will work at all.

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