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Question

Problems Creating CHM output

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
June 5, 2009
3 replies
4454 views

I've Inherited a vast help project from a predecessor that includes multiple layouts. Previously, the deliverable help systems were in WebHelp format. My project manager wants to do away with the multiple folders and files of that format and move to an HTML system with a single chm file as a client deliverable. However, when I created two new layouts as HTML and compiled them I received the following error in the middle of the compilation:

Warning: The size of stop file has to be limited in 512 bytes.

C:\Help\Detailed Model License\!chm_tmp_folder_0\UIPlanner_Help.hhp
Microsoft HTML Help Compiler 4.74.8702

Compiling c:\Help\Detailed Model License\UIPlanner_Help.chm

and the next message at the end of the compilation:

Fatal Error: Unexpected error from Microsoft HTML compiler.
Finished compiling HTMLHELP in 50 sec(s)

Compilation complete.

Needles to say, the chm file would not open. Could there be an issue with size, as this layout would be quite large? Do I need to update my Windows HTML compiler?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

HTML

This topic has been closed for replies.

D

Diana7969

Known Participant

I wasn't sure whether to add to this post or start a new one but the former won out.

Like others in this forum, I too have the Fatal Error message when creating CHM output. Here is my scenario:

1. I have a RoboHelp 7 file that I successfully used and made a .chm file.

2. I needed to make changes to the files so I copied the whole directory and made the changes. (only minor text changes)

3. When I now try to make the new .chm file, I get the Fatal Error message as stated in this thread.

4. I tried the fixes mentioned here (with the .cpd file and the last file prior to crash) and nothing has helped.

5. Let me add that I can successfully generate a Word doc, and WebHelp. It is just the Microsoft HTML Help that doesn't work (of course this is the one that I need. immediately).

6. I needed to upgrade to RoboHelp 9 for another project anyway, so I bought the new version and installed it.

7. When I try to open the project with RH 9, I get the "project created in older version - would you like to upgrade" message (paraphrase) and when I click the upgrade button, it CRASHES RH 9.

Is this project a total loss?

Captiv8r

Legend

Hi there

I wouldn't say it is. You likely have a lone topic that is the cause of the mess. So here is a tried and true way of working. Divide and conquer.

Working with copies of your project, delete half the topics and try compiling. Still crash or not? If it still crashes, delete the other half and try again. See if it's sucessful. That will tell you there is an issue with a topic in that first batch. So take the first batch and split it again by removing half the topics.

The goal is to keep splitting until you narrow down a manageable few topics. Then you try removing a topic at a time until you find the culprit.Hopefully it's just a single topic, but it could be two or three!

I suppose another approach would be to create a new blank project and import several topics from the suspect project. Compile and test. No crash, import more. Rinse and repeat.

Cheers... Rick

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Known Participant

OK, I'll give this a shot and report back. May not be until tomorrow. thanks.

RoboWizard

Inspiring

Hmmm, so it wasn't the stop file then. Darn, I was hoping that would solve it.

So we dig deeper. Try the following:

Create a totally new layout for Microsoft HTML Help. Don't duplicate, just create a new one and see if it works. If so, then you tweak it as you like.

If the new layout fails, you have other issues. You then likely have a problem with one of the files in your project. You might then enable the Output View (Tools > Options > General tab) and see if anything is listed. Oh wait, that's where you saw the message. Duh...

Okay, so what HTML file is listed before it dies? Perhaps look at that one. Or...

Copy your project to a different folder. Delete half the topics and compile. Does it work? If so, you keep repeating this process until you isolate where the problem child is hiding.

Hopefully this helps... Rick

Peter Grainge

Community Expert

I'll leave Rick to assist you with the generation problem but there is something else to consider here. You have been creating webhelp and are now going to create CHMs. Has your project manager considered that CHMs do not work from a server without making registry changes.

See http://www.grainge.org/pages/authoring/chm_mspatch/896358.htm for more information.

Are the CHMs going to be installed on the end users desktop machines?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

Use the menu (bottom right) to mark the Best Answer or Highlight particularly useful replies. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here.

Captiv8r

Legend

Hi there

You probably just need to reset the stop list to the default settings.

To reset the Stop List:

Click File > Project Settings...
Click the Advanced button.
Click the Stop List tab and then the Reset to Default button.

Cheers... Rick

H

HelpDivaAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi Rick:

I did as you suggested and am still getting the same errors, including the Fatal Error: Unexpected error from Microsoft HTML compiler at the end. This error only occurs when I try to generate my layout with everything in the help project, regardless of build tags. When I try a smaller layout, it generates fine and produces a chm file that is about 13 megs. The entire project compiled would have an output of about 5 times that size. Is size an issue in generating HTML help systems?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

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