RH 2019 does not synch from source Word file to the Project file

Okay - Updated to latest version, and followed your instructions. Results are as you indicate, but no "status" arrows appear anywhere in the content tree for the document.

1. File > Import > Word Document.
2. Create/Update Topics (right-click on W doc). No arrows/status.
3. Update original document by changing single word. No arrows.
4. Create/Update Topics (right-click on W doc). No arrows/status changes, but topic updates to show new word.

The first thing I note is you are seeing yellow or green arrows. I am seeing red or green so please check the Help menu to check it shows 2020.3

Please run the test without using Sync. That is not meant to be used with linked Word documents. 

1. At the beginning of your document add a new word and save.
2. Assuming the document is already linked, click Create/Update.
3. Do not use Sync in either direction anywhere in this process.

Does that new word appear?

If it does then the process is working. It may be that you have found the using Sync is doing something it shouldn't but let's worry about that later.

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See www.grainge.org for free Authoring and RoboHelp Information

Hi Peter - 

I'm only doing this in 2020 on a 4-5 topic test project (assisting someone else in the company that is new to RH, in what is ultimately will be their project). So - thankfully working from a clean slate and trying to help them set their project up, and I'm not worrying about an existing project with multiple linked files. Phew. I have never used this feature prior to yesterday.

Okay - starting in the following state: W file (testimport.docx) is Green arrow (synched).

1) Right-click file, select Show in Explorer, open file, and edit by removing text. 

2) Save file. File is shown as having date and time at save.

3) Back in RH - W file is Yellow arrow.

4) Right-click on W file, select Create/Update Topics. W file returns to Green arrow.

5) Back in explorer, W file has REVERTED to previous Save Time and Date (one hour previous).
6) Open W file and edit again and save.

7) Back in RH, file is YELLOW arrow.

😎 Do the "Sync Folder > Project to source"). File is still Yellow arrow.

9) Right-click on file and do Create/Update topics. File turns Green arrow. Edit shows up.

Those steps are what get the file updates to work for me.

If I do SYNC folder from Source to Project, the file is reverted to previously saved version and any edits are discarded.

If I do a Create/Update topic without doing a Sync, the file is reverted to previously saved version and any edits are discarded.

You have said you made changes in Word but when you click Create/Update it reverses the changes in Word. Prior to clicking Create/Update the docx file must be showing as out of sync in RoboHelp (red arrow). Was that the case and in 2020?

For the purposes of nailing this please create a DOCX file with just the word Green in it. Then in a new RoboHelp project link that document and Create/Update so that you have a topic showing the word Green.

Next change Green to Red and save. The DOCX in RoboHelp should show a red arrow. Click Create/Update please report what happens in 2020.

________________________________________________________
See www.grainge.org for free Authoring and RoboHelp Information

---- Just as a note --- it is the account previously known as "Regiolanthe" posting the above response (not a new party). For some reason, Adobe saw fit to trounce all over my old account and update it with new information and a new name.

For me, making edits in the Word document and then selecting Create/Update Topics IMMEDIATELY reverted the Word document back to the previously saved version.

For me, the procedure definitely required a "Sync from Project to Source" PRIOR to doing the Create/Update Topics. I only needed a single sync on the folder (Sync Folder from Project to Source), followed by a Create/Update to suck in the changes to the file. I assume a "Sync All" does all linked files in the project, but was only working with a single file.

@Regiolanthe1 Ignore the information above as the workflow was changed. After linking the document use Create/Update Topics in the same menu.

Using the Sync options will not update the topics in RoboHelp and neither will it update your Word file. You will see a dialog saying it has updated but it does not. I used a simple document with the word "red" in it. Using the sync options did not update anything in either direction.

________________________________________________________
See www.grainge.org for free Authoring and RoboHelp Information

Just a note - this works in RH2020 (although it is a VERY poorly documented feature). However, its implementation seems backwards. If you make an update in the "source" DOCX document, you need to sync FROM PROJECT TO SOURCE (as opposed to the seemingly far more logical "FROM SOURCE TO PROJECT") to get the update in your robohelp contents. Doing it the other way overwrites the changes to your word file with whatever was last in Robohelp. Just an FYI.

Initially I was going to post that I found the same but I tried a few things and got it to work.

Put focus on the document in the Contents panel. The menu has Sync (Source to Project) and Update HTML. Use those in that order.

Then go to the folder with the same name as your document and open the HTM file that is there. Again click Sync (Source to Project). For me that then updated.

I would agree it seems three clicks are needed where one should do but try it and post back.

See www.grainge.org for free RoboHelp and Authoring information.

@petergrainge