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P
penguintrax
Participating Frequently
August 11, 2008
Question

Unable to change secondary window title in Winhelp

  • August 11, 2008
  • 9 replies
  • 1617 views
Using RH 5.x for MS Word. MS Word 2003.

I am working with a client provided Winhelp 4 system and cannot get the title of the Secondary Windows to change. I have updated the name of the help system everywhere that I should have (Project>Settings and Winhelp Single Source Layout) but for some reason when I compile the Help, the old product title appears in the secondary window title bars.

Oddly enough, when I go to Project>Windows>Main, the WYSIWYG display shows the correct window title. However when I double click the Example Window on the left, the Window Title field on the right shows the OLD project name. However, that field is not open for editing.

I have tried compiling the Help with Author settings on, then switching back to Normal and that didn't work.

Any ideas? I'm at my wit's end on this one.

Thanks in advance,
Barbara

Tallahassee, FL
This topic has been closed for replies.

9 replies

B
bawd
Inspiring
August 12, 2008
You're welcome!

Brian
P
penguintraxAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 12, 2008
Right-clicking and opening the HPJ file in Windows Explorer was just the ticket! I was able to edit the Main window title and regenerate the system and the window title bars are correct.

You both have my undying gratitude!

Barbara
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 12, 2008
My feeling was that there was a residual window spec left over from a previous build. (You can go on adding windows via Project>Windows rightclick.)

Now - if you Open <yourprojectname>.hpj the project summary is displayed in dialog format. The first line reads 'This file is maintained by HCW. Do not modify this file directly.' Nevertheless, it is possible to do so - doubleclick on any of the sections to bring up an editable dialog on its settings. There are buttons at right, too, that replicate several of the doubleclicks. I'm annoyed that I can't remember which file stores all this data in an accessible form.

In the General tab of the resulting Windows dialog there are the options to Add, Remove and Include window types and enter/edit Title texts. It's worth having a look at what's shown here just in case there is an Include being copied from another (and possibly no longer available?) project file.

Perhaps try this (having backed up, of course!!):
1 Note the required spec for your second window.
2 Open the .hpj windows dialog and Remove any and all windows apart from Main.
3 Open the project and see if the ghost is still there.
4 Is it??

(No-one else going back this far?)

Brian
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 11, 2008
It's past bedtime here but I'll have a dig into one or two of my old WinHelp4's in the morning.

Brian
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 11, 2008
By all means, Rick. Barbara?

Brian
P
penguintraxAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 11, 2008
Pic #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/penguintrax/2753870665/
Pic #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/penguintrax/2754700812/
Pic #3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/penguintrax/2753870701/

Thanks, everyone, for your willingness to help me resolve this issue!
Captiv8r
Captiv8r
Legend
August 11, 2008
Hi all

Okay, Barbara I'm delving deep into memory filled with cobwebs and dust here. So please forgive me. My WinHelp memories are fading more with each passing day. But I digress...

I recall that there was WinHelp and along came WinHelp 4. I cracked open my RoboHelp for Word (shudder) and I see that the only layouts that are there are for WinHelp 4. But if I right-click, I am able to choose a new layout type of WinHelp 3. The dialogs appear differently for WinHelp 3.

I suppose my thought here is that perhaps if you tried as WinHelp 3, maybe the dialogs touch an area of the .HPJ file that the others aren't.

Also you may wish to hunt down and kill off any .GID files lurking about. Seems these little beasties caused issues too. Actually, you may wish to try that first. Certainly won't hurt anything. When you open the .HLP again it will be baked up fresh on the spot.

Good luck in sorting it... Rick
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 11, 2008
Barbara - you should be able to PM me now. Let's see what you've got.

Brian
Captiv8r
Captiv8r
Legend
August 11, 2008
Why not post the screen shots where all forum members may view? That way you gain the collective perspective.

Just a thought... Rick
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 11, 2008
Slightly confused here:

You say '...Project>Windows>Main...shows the correct window title [in the example window at left]...' but '...the Window Title field is not open for editing for the Main window.'

Correct, in that the Window Title box (second down at right) is only available for *secondary* window. The *Main* window takes its title from the Project Title (via Project Settings).

However, are you saying that the Window Title box (second at right) is not available if you click on the example *second* window (at left) or select Second (or whatever) (top box at right)?

Brian
P
penguintraxAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 11, 2008
Brian -

May I send you screen shots of what I am seeing.

The window title field is not editable when looking at Main. It is when looking at Secondary. However, the WYSIWYG view of Main shows the correct window title, but when I double-click on it, text appears in the Window Title field (none was visible previously). That text shows the incorrect window title.

The setup for the secondary window is correct.

Could it be that I just need to set the topics to open in the secondary window? I'm very rusty working with RH5x.

Thanks again,
Barbara

Infinity Software Development, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
P
penguintraxAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 11, 2008
Well, it was a valiant effort, but it didn't work. I defined another window using the Secondary Window Template, but when I compile the system, the old title still shows in the title bar.

As I said earlier, when I go to Project>Windows>Main, the WYSIWYG display shows the correct window title. However when I double click the Example Window on the left, the Window Title field on the right shows the OLD project name. However, the Window Title field is not open for editing for the Main window.
B
bawd
Inspiring
August 11, 2008
Hi Barbara

In the RH Explorer pane, select Project>Windows (as you said) then doubleclick on Main to open the Window Properties dialog box. This where colours, sizes etc are defined. There are two example windows shown in the lefthand pane. One is called the Main window. The other is called Second or Screenshot or something - this name is editable in the Window Title box on the right and anything entered here appears simultaneously on the example window at left. The default is blank - no title entry in the box - in which case the generated window should display the same title as the Main window, i.e. as you set in page 1 of the Project Settings wizard. Does this match what's happening to you or are you saying that the Window Title box is greyed out?

Of course, I'm assuming that if you're on WinHelp4, you're also in good old RHX5, where things work most of the time if you know where to kick (a bit like a car engine with a carburettor and distributor). If you're on RH6 or 7 then I'm afraid you are dealing with electronic engine management systems and this old dinosaur can't help, much as he would like to - sorry...

Brian

PS Just spotted that you are indeed on RHX5. Must find my spectacles. B
P
penguintraxAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 11, 2008
AHA! It seems the original authors did not specify a format for the secondary window, or if they did, it didn't come through during my backwards engineering of the project.

I'm going to add another Window type and give it a go and see what happens. Hope you find your spectacles. I will report back!
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