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Participant
November 24, 2009
Answered

Creating a link to a relative path

  • November 24, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 4862 views

I am hoping someone can help me here.

I'm using Robohelp 6.0 and outputting to a CHM file (Robohtml). I have a separate .htm file with 3 associated files (.flv (flash video), .js, .swf (controller), and .xml (settings) file). This is our training library in video format which is embedded in the .htm file. It was made using Camtasia. What I would like to do is either one of the following:

1. Create a relative link from the .chm file to the .htm file which is outside the project.

2. Include everything in the baggage files and run it from inside the .chm file.

My results were as follows:

1. No matter what I try, I cannot seem to access the .htm file from the Robohelp output using a relative link. I ensured that all the files were in a single directory where the chm file is located, so I know the paths are correct. It's as if Robohelp can only create links for absolute paths? Is this really the case? Also, I don't need the files to be included in the project. I just need to access that .htm file relatively. All the coding is in the .htm file to read the movies.

2. Placing everything into the baggage files does allow me to run the htm file, but the .flv and .swf files don't display in the html window. no matter how I slice it, I can't get these video files to load. As a side note, I can embed .swf files into Robohelp without a hitch, but this training library has multiple videos and a table of contents and such and is 250 MB as an .swf file. But as an .flv file, it is only 25 MB. So obviously, I would prefer to use the .flv file.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Pete_Lees

Hi, Rob,

> Create a relative link from the .chm file to the .htm file which is outside the project.

Microsoft's HTML Help documentation includes a script for exactly this purpose. See:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms644690(VS.85).aspx

And see also:

http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#externalfile

Pete

1 reply

Pete_LeesCorrect answer
Participating Frequently
November 24, 2009

Hi, Rob,

> Create a relative link from the .chm file to the .htm file which is outside the project.

Microsoft's HTML Help documentation includes a script for exactly this purpose. See:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms644690(VS.85).aspx

And see also:

http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#externalfile

Pete

tojo71Author
Participant
November 24, 2009

Thanks for the info. It was a good read. Actually, I realized after reading through your posts and about 2 hours of trial and error that the functionality is already built into Robohelp 6. Insert Navigation Control (a toolbar button) > HTML Help Controls > Shortcut. Now I'm ready to cry because I wasted a whole day on this nonsense. Seriously. If adobe would have just added "related links" in their Robohelp Help file, I wouldn't have had to go through any of this. But to name it "Shortcut" is completely useless. It's not a shortcut, it's a LINK!

Anyhow. So much for the people that write help on help. Kind of ironic.

But thanks for your help. I do appreciate the reply.

Rob

Captiv8r
Legend
November 25, 2009

Hi Rob

There is a bit of a bug with the HTML Help viewer, in that sometimes a CHM doesn't sense the folder it's actually in. This normally manifests when you open the CHM file from an application. So the code solution is there if you run into that.

But sure, if all your end user is doing to open the help is launching a shortcut or double-clicking the CHM to open it up, the shortcut control is the simplest approach.

Cheers... Rick

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