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NocturneGames
NocturneGames
Participating Frequently
March 9, 2020
Question

How to add a link to download files

  • March 9, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 934 views

Hello! I'm creating tutorial documentation (exclusively using the responsive HTML5 output) for a product using RoboHelp and this requires the user to download additional files. However I can find no way to "bundle" these files with the RoboHelp output so that the user can click on a link and download them. It seems like I can only add very specific file types to the assets folder from within RoboHelp, and when I manually add the files I require - while they do appear in the Contents list - any links to them in the HTML don't work and on inspecting the output files, it appears that these assets are not being included when the responsive HTML is being generated. Is it at all possible to have the files included with the HTML assets and have the user download them? Or am I going to have to simply host them externally and then link to them that way (which I'd like to avoid if possible).

 

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2 replies

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 6, 2023

My initial thought was it's a browser issue but you say it's fine in the TOC. I assume you mean it downloads from there.

 

Perhaps change the extension to txt and add a note to change it after downloading? 

________________________________________________________
My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

 

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Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 9, 2020

First you can add any file type to Assets or Contents as they are just mirroring what you would see in File Explorer. What types can't you import and what is stopping you? If you are looking at what is listed in the dropdown, there is a *.* option.

 

If you add a link in a topic to say a zip file, that should be sufficient for the zip file to be included in the output. Without knowing what is not making it to the output, I can't try it here. You could add the file to the TOC and then select the Hide in Output option. That makes sure the file is uploaded but the user does not see it listed in the TOC. That is the equivalent of a Baggage file in older versions of RoboHelp. It's described in the RoboHelp Reimagined sample project that ships with RoboHelp. Also in the RoboHelp Tour on my site.

 

You should not have to upload to a separate server.

 

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    NocturneGames
    NocturneGamesAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 9, 2020

    Thank you for the quick reply. The file format I am trying to include is a *.YYZ file and while I can add it to the contents using the *.* option (or by simply copying it into the contents/assets folder in explorer), it's not being added to the output. I'll go ahead and try what you suggest about adding it to the ToC and then let you know how I get on. Thanks again!

    NocturneGames
    NocturneGamesAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 9, 2020

    Okay, so, when I try to follow the guide you have, it says to use the Insert Pages > Local Files option to add "baggage" files, however, RoboHelp limits the file types that I can include, and it does not have a *.* option in this section (note that I'm using RoboHelp 2019 Update 11). If I don't use the explorer to add the file, and instead supply the path itself directly, then it appears to be added to the ToC, however the RMB > Properties window has no option to "Hide" this file. Am I looking in the wrong place for this option?

     

    The GOOD new is that when I generate the HTML output and click on the ToC entry for the file, it is being downloaded, so I'm halfway to resolviong the issue!

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