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Tim_M-OVlFNH
Participating Frequently
May 19, 2009
Question

Connections to RoboSource Control Not Working

We migrated our projects from RH5 to RH8.  We used RSC with RH5, but we removed the projects from RSC prior to migrating them to RH8; we wanted to have one stable copy of each project with all the topics checked in and not keep any of the prior history.  I have tried three times to set up our RH8 projects using RSC 3.1 with SQLExpress.  Each time, I am able to create the databases, set up the user library using the "Use Windows Authentication" option, use the "Add to Version Control" option to add the projects to RSC, open a local project using the "Open from Version Control" option on the Open Project screen, check out all the topics, check them back in, and update a topic from my local copy of the help.  As with our RH5 setup, my PC is the server and has SQLExpress installed on it.  The projects are being accessed using my PC's IP address and/or domain name; eventually one or more other users are also to be set up with their own local copies.

If I attempt to set up a user on a different PC, I get a message that I cannot link to the server.  I have tried using both my PC's IP and domain name, either of which should work according to the RSC help.  The source files on my PC are shared and are visible on the network from the other PC.  Also, any attempt to connect to a project on my PC from a different PC appears to disable the RSC connections on my PC.  If I access a project that I just added to RSC and tested, the project opens outside of version control without even giving me a message that RH8 was unable to connect to RSC.  If I open the source copy of the project, sometimes it opens using RSC and sometimes it does not.

This morning, I repeated the process but did NOT attempt to set up a copy on a different PC.  When I came back from lunch, all of my local copies no longer used RSC when I opened them.  Only one of my source copies still used RSC when I opened it.

Any ideas?

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12 replies

Gravenstein
Gravenstein
Inspiring
May 19, 2009

Hi Tim -

Some questions for you:

1. Did you add the project to version control from RSC or from RH?

2. Does the database name consist of alpha characters only, and does it have at least four characters?

3. When you tried to make the other writer's initial connection, did you first try to connect via RSC?

Number 3 is a bit odd, but at least for RSC3 (RH6), is necessary. At the very first access of the project, the writer needs to first connect via RSC. They don't actually have to DO anything with the connection, just establish it. After that, they'll be able to connect via RH.

G.

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Tim_M-OVlFNHAuthor
Participating Frequently
May 20, 2009

Gravenstein,

Thank you for your quick reply yesterday.  I attempted to reply by e-mail, but my e-mail was returned as undeliverable.  Below are the answers to your questions:

1. Did you add the project to version control from RSC or from RH?

I created the original databases using the RoboSource Server Configurator.  I initially tried to add a project by dragging the tree from the project folder into RSC, but I encountered an error (which I suspect was caused by the size of the project; we have about 4,500 topics).  When I subsequently tried to access MS Word 2007, I received a warning that a RoboHelp add-in had caused a serious error, and I was prompted to disable the add-in.  I did not disable it.  I used the RSC Edit -> Delete option to remove the partial tree from the database in RSC.  I then proceeded to add the files using the "Add to Version Control" icon from within RH.

I tried again today with a smaller project (about 50 topics).  I created the database using RoboSource Server Configurator.  On the Configure New Database screen, I was not able to successfully select a folder in which to store the SQLServer/MSDE database files--even though I used the browse button to select the directory through the network.  After several attempts, I just left this field blank so that the system would use the default path.  When I tried to add files to the database by dragging a tree from the project folder into the database, I received an error adding file message on every file.  Only the folders were added without error.  If it matters, none of the files were write-protected.   I have not been able to successfully add topics to the database using the RSC screen.

2. Does the database name consist of alpha characters only, and does it have at least four characters?

The database names are alpha characters only and more than four characters (i.e., WebHelpMS, WebHelpMM, and WebHelpPM; I also used VisionHelpMS, VisionHelpMM, and VisionHelpPM).  Do upper and lower case letters matter?

3. When you tried to make the other writer's initial connection, did you first try to connect via RSC?

No.  I used the RH "Open from Version Control" option, which then accesses RSC.  I will try connecting to RSC first.

Also, I have received a few dialogue box messages that indicate some of RoboHelp's content has been blocked.  I have responded to the prompt to unblock the content.  We are using McAfee.  Could our virus checker be causing the RSC links to fail?

I also have a related but separate question: Is anyone successfully using RSC with RH8 on a Windows XP Professional 64 bit system?  If you are and could send me info on how you set it up, that would be great.

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Gravenstein
Gravenstein
Inspiring
May 20, 2009

Tim -

1. You should use RH to add the project to source control. (This was true in earlier versions; I assume it's still true.) There are some project files that absolutely should not be added to RSC, and RH handles this properly. If you manually add files using RSC Explorer, you'll get into trouble.

2. You're OK on the db name. The case shouldn't matter.

3. Have each writer make the initial connection to your new db using their local version of RSC Explorer. If 3.1 is like 3.0, then they must do that before they can connect through RH. Symptom before: from RH, when the writer tries to specify which db to connect to, the dropdown list does not show the new db. Symptom after making initial connection via RSC: from RH, the db shows up in the dialog box list, and the writer can proceed with the connection.

4. Blocked content. I don't think McAfee is causing your connection to fail, although I guess it would be possible. More likely is that McAfee will interfere with your performance, slowing things down by checking all your file accesses.

5. RSC with RH8 on a Windows XP Professional 64 bit system. Good thought. That might be something to check on. I don't have any experience using the product on a 64-bit system, myself.

G.

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