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A
Anonymous
January 3, 2012
Answered

Converting RoboHelp X5.0.2 project to 9.0.1 - Generate Primary Layout doesn't produce anything

  • January 3, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • 2874 views

Our company has been using RoboHelp X5.0.2 for many years and I am quite familiar with it. We are considering upgrading to 9.0.1 soon so I am evaluating the 30 day trial.

My old projects all load fine into 9.0.1 and the GUI is reasonably familiar to me. However, when I select "Generate Primary Layout", nothing happens! Normally in X5.0.2 in the Output Window I see something like this:

Created c:\My Documents\HelpFiles\MVMControl3\MVMControl3\!SSL!\Microsoft_HTML_Help\MVMControl3.chm, 41,916 bytes

Compression decreased file by 93,198 bytes.

Finished compiling HTMLHELP in 4 sec(s)

Compilation complete.

But in the output window of 9.0.1 I see nothing at all.

If I do a batch generate I see:

Batch generating layout "MMEA Layout"....

Batch generating layout "Normal Layout"....

Batch generating layout "WebHelp"....

etc....but I don't see any output files - I can't see any new CHM files anywhere in my hard drive.

Does the trial version not produce CHM files? Or is there something different I have to do? The Output Window doesn't seem very useful in 9.0.1 so I am at a loss to understand what is preventing it from creating any output. Is there anywhere else I can check in the app to see what is stopping the output from being generated?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer johndaigle

    Hi, and welcome to the forums.

    It appears that WebHelp has been set as your "primary layout". The solution is to change your primary layout to "Microsoft HTML Help". You do this by right clicking the Microsoft HTML Help listing in the Single Source Layout pod and select "Set as Primary Layout".

    The first time you generate, you will want to double-click on the Microsoft HTML Help layout listing and select whatever preferences you may have in the screens that are presented. Then click Save and Generate. Once you are satisfied with your results, you can then use the Toolbar button to "Generate Primary Layout."

    Let us know if this helps.

    John Daigle

    Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor

    Evergreen, Colorado

    www.showmethedemo.com

    1 reply

    johndaigle
    johndaigleCorrect answer
    Legend
    January 3, 2012

    Hi, and welcome to the forums.

    It appears that WebHelp has been set as your "primary layout". The solution is to change your primary layout to "Microsoft HTML Help". You do this by right clicking the Microsoft HTML Help listing in the Single Source Layout pod and select "Set as Primary Layout".

    The first time you generate, you will want to double-click on the Microsoft HTML Help layout listing and select whatever preferences you may have in the screens that are presented. Then click Save and Generate. Once you are satisfied with your results, you can then use the Toolbar button to "Generate Primary Layout."

    Let us know if this helps.

    John Daigle

    Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor

    Evergreen, Colorado

    www.showmethedemo.com

    John DaigleAdobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate InstructorNewport, Oregon
    A
    Anonymous
    January 3, 2012

    Ah, that seems to be pretty close to the problem, though something strange is happening.....the first 2 layouts were actually Microsoft HTML Help Layouts rather than WebHelp layouts. But changing the Primary Layout to Microsoft HTML Help does enable me to generate a CHM file which is what I need to complete my evaluation. I will look at the Properties of the Single Source Layouts that don't work and will see what settings are different. That isn't really something that that will get in the way of the evaluation though......but not being able to create PDF files without Microsoft Word is a concern......I wasn't aware until today that a 3rd party app would be needed, especially as I thought Adobe invented the PDF format.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 3, 2012

    If you need good-looking PDF output as well, I suggest going the Technical Communication Suite route - author in FrameMaker, create PDFs from FM, import or link your FM books to create help output in RH.

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