HTML Help .chm - Print error on compiled help when a mini TOC is in use

Question

Hi all,I thought I saw a thread about using the print function in compiled .chm causing an error, but I can't seem to find it.  I wanted to add to the discussion, because I've isolated the issue a bit fuurther, and it seems to occur only when a mini TOC placeholder is in use in the project.  A bug report was submitted some time ago, but I have submitted another to include these findings.My environment:  Windows 7 64-bit, Internet Explorer 9, RoboHelp 10.0.0.287My findings.1. Open the "Employee Care" sample project that ships with RoboHelp 10.2. Compile the "Microsoft_HTML_Help_Location_Based_US" SSL and view the generated output.3. In the compiled .chm output's TOC, right-click one of the TOC entries and select the "Print" menu option from the popup menu. The Print Topics dialog displays.4. Select the "Print the selected heading and all subtopics" radio button and click the OK button.5. The standard Windows "Print" dialog displays.----^ This is the expected result. ^----1. In the "Employee Care" sample project that ships with RoboHelp 10, open the "Introduction" topic and add a mini TOC to the top of it (Insert --> Placeholder --> Topic TOC).  Accept the default settings when adding the mini TOC.2. Compile the "Microsoft_HTML_Help_Location_Based_US" SSL and view the generated output.3. In the compiled .chm output's TOC, right-click one of the TOC entries and select the "Print" menu option from the popup menu. The Print Topics dialog displays.4. Select the "Print the selected heading and all subtopics" radio button and click the OK button.5. A standard Windows "Webpage Error" dialog displays.  The error displayed is as follows:"Line: 49Error: The value of the property 'TextPopupInit' is null or undefined, not a Function object"You can click No (don't debug) to dismiss the error and display the standard Windows "Print" dialog like in the first scenario above, but the error has already popped and the clients don't like it.I only see this issue when a mini TOC is added to any topic in any project.  I've made Firefox my default browser and the problem remains.

Captiv8r · Answer

Hi thereI'm sure printing from a compiled CHM file sounds like a wonderful idea. At least in theory. The fact of the matter is, it's woefully inadequate if your goal is to provide the user with a nicely formatted printed version of what they are viewing inside the CHM file.What folks need to come to terms with is that Print and Online are two completely different mediums and it's unlikely you will find that magickal "one size fits all" approach. I suspect most folks pretty much ignore the issues surrounding the printed output from a CHM file and just let the user get what they get if they choose to print. After all, if they are printing, it's likely not because they are compiling a printed book based on the printed pages from a CHM, no? My guess is that it's for temporary use somehow.If you are serious about getting "Pretty" print from a CHM file, you need to consider including a PDF document that is formatted as you wish the user to see it in print, then ship that along with the CHM (and probably a link inside the CHM to open it) and have them print from the PDF version.Think of yourself as a pilot in a small aircraft and a looming storm approaching. It's going to be quite a bumpy and unexpected ride if you stay the course.Cheers... Rick

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