RH7 can't open FrameMaker 8 docs

Here is exactly what I am seeing when I try to open a Framemaker book or fm file, step by step

First I create a project in Robohelp HTML For book files, here’s what happens.

1. Choose File > Import > FrameMaker document
2. Navigate to the folder and select a .book file. The Content Settings dialog appears.
3. Leave all settings at default, except check Apply FrameMaker Conditional Text Build Expression
4. Click Next. The Style Settings screen appears.
5. Check Convert AutoNumbers to HTML list. But when I click Select to choose the user defined HTML tag, nothing happens.
6. When I click the Edit button to configure Style Mappings, nothing happens.
7. When I click Finish nothing happens.

Now, for the FM files, here’s what happens …

1. File > Import > FrameMaker document.
2. I choose one of the fm files in the same folder as the book.
3. Leave all settings at default except I check Apply FrameMaker Conditional Text Build Expression.
4. Click Next to go to the Style Settings dialog.
5. Check the Convert AutoNumber to HTML List option.
6. When I click the Select button, I receive a message that “filename.fm” could not be opened. Please verify that this is a valid FrameMaker document.
7. When I click the Edit button in the Style Mappings section , the RoboHelp Style Mappings dialog opens. But the styles available in the FM file are not listed.

I tried a Repair installation thinking that something might have installed improperly. Still no change. I can import MIF files of the same FrameMaker documents without a problem, but can't import a book or a FM file. 8-(

And thinking about it more, it sure would be nice to have the direct link to the FrameMaker document so that I could edit in one place.

Either method would be fine. But either way, as it stands now, the only way I am able to bring in Framemaker docs is to convert them to MIF format. Every attempt to import a book or fm file has failed.

I'd appreciate it if someone could confirm that the problems I'm having might be related to differences between the standalone Robohelp 7 and the enhanced Technical Bundle version.

Here's my dilemma ...

I upgraded from Captivate 2 to Captivate 3 on August 8. That upgrade was $299.

On September 8, I purchased a full version of FrameMaker 8, as it was needed for a rush project where I had to convert Word 2007 documents to FrameMaker. FrameMaker 7 wouldn't import the Word files, so I had no choice but to spend the $899.

On September 25, RoboHelp 7 was available for preorder. Also on that date they announced the Technical Bundle, which I could have purchased for $999. But because I'd already bought FrameMaker 8 for $100 less than that, it wasn't a realistic option. So I ordered the RoboHelp 7 upgrade for $79.99 - thinking that the FrameMaker 8 compatibility would be there so that I wouldn't have to export to MIF format.

But now that information on the Technical bundle is available, I see that the versions of FrameMaker 8 and Robohelp 7 are "enhanced" versions, not the same versions as what I've already paid more for. I bought these programs on good faith that they would be compatible with eachother ... so what exactly are the "enhanced" features that are available in the bundle?

I've paid almost $1300 for 3 of the four programs that I COULD have purchased in the bundle for $999. And the versions I purchased for $300 more have less functionality than the bundled versions, and I could have received Adobe Acrobat 3D on top of them.

I'm not a happy camper. 8-(

I should also add that I do see the format mapping dialogs pop up when I convert to MIF format, but it still sees the book and fm versions as "invalid." That, and Vista compatibility, were the main reasons I upgraded. 8-(

I preordered the RH6 to RH7 upgrade and the only version I had available to download was the single product ...

In spite of the fact that I already own seperate licenses of Captivate 3, FrameMaker 8, Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, and then ordered the RH7 upgrade.

Adobe HAS to change their policy on upgrade pricing. It was cheaper for me to upgrade piecemeal than it was to get the bundles of products that I already had. I've already paid for Captivate 3 and FrameMaker 8 ... and now RH7. The only difference between what I have and the technical bundle is that I have Acrobat 8 Pro and not the 3D version. One would think I could have been entitled to a special price on the bundle, no?

Still no luck on opening FrameMaker documents (either FM7 or FM8, and either .book or .fm files).

When trying to import .book format, I can't open the file when I try to map the formats. The dialog doesn't appear when I click the button.

When I try to import a single fm file, RoboHelp tells me it can't open the FrameMaker file because it's invalid.

I thought perhaps it was because I restored the files from a DVD backup, and I removed the "Read Only" tags from the files. But that didn't seem to help.

Are there any instructions anywhere that might shed more light than the help files?

Interestingly enough, the solution was to start RoboHelp for Word and create a makeshift project. That seemed to be enough to trigger the macros so that Print to PDF would work in RoboHelp for HTML.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the FrameMaker files in there. 8-)

First just try to generate to Word. If you get the same message, which I suspect you will, look in Word for security settings and reduce them to Medium.

That will surely help! LOL

Thanks

A few other issues with RH7 are also cropping up ...

Can't access online help. When I select the command from the Help menu Firefox opens, but I get a file not found (404) page.

When trying to print a page to PDF, I get a message that the macros have to be enabled. I open the PrintDoc.dot template in Word and am unable to save it to the same location after enabling the macros.

Without being able to access the Help files, either online or on my system, it's kind of hard to figure out what the problem is. 8-)

Running on Vista Home Premium with RH7 and FrameMaker 8.