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Anonymous
October 15, 2010
Question

User-Defined Variable not Updating at Generate Layout

  • October 15, 2010
  • 1 reply
  • 1709 views

Hello, Forum Posters,

I've created a RoboHelp 8 file that's chock full of user-defined variables throughout the thousand or so topics. When I generate WebHelp, I get a great-looking document that, because of the variables, looks like it was written exclusively for one of our clients.

Then, to give the help system to the next client, I open the User-Defined Variables pod, change the values of the three variables to match the next client, save the project and generate WebHelp again, making sure to check the box that says "Republish All" on the last screen before committing to the actual publish.

Trouble is, many, if not all (lost count after the first dozen) instances of the old variable value persist in the system. When I open the topic from within RoboHelp, the new value is there. I suspect, like the refrigerator light, that my opening of the topic is what causes the value to update to the new one.

Is there a way to force the values to update in every topic without opening every topic so that when I generate WebHelp for each client, I can just change the variables to match their needs and get on with my life?

Thanks in advance.

Brad M.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2010

    I'm trying to get this clear in my mind.

    You have three variables that are used in many places in the system. Let's call them CoName, CoPhone and CoEmail.

    Before generating you update all three but in the output, some of them display with the previous value, not the new value?

    Always the same ones?

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    @petergrainge

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    A
    Anonymous
    October 19, 2010

    Peter,

    More specifically,

    I have five user-defined variables and a handful of variable sets: one set for each of our clients, representing their HomeCity, their Name and their CEOName. Three of the variables change values from set to set, as you might expect because our clients work for different companies around the U.S.

    When I set up properties for the WebHelp Single Source layout, on the first parameters screen in the Content region, the fourth drop-down menu is Variables set. I change this to Client A, which represents Fred from Cleveland. Fred's CEO is Angela.

    When I generate the content and do a search using the built-in search tab built into WebHelp (latest version of Internet Explorer), I'm finding instances where Steve is still the client's name, the CEO is Marion and the city is New York.

    Some of the topics that have these variables inserted into the text are automatically being updated upon generate, while others aren't.

    Prior to creating sets, I was manually going into the Variable pod and changing the values by hand for each of the clients prior to output. But the result was pretty much the same.

    Clearer or no?

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 19, 2010

    I think so.

    When you want to generate WebHelp you have one layout and you select one of the sets.

    If the variable set is A, the CEO is Angela

    If the variable set is B, the CEO is Marion

    Except that in some topics when the set was A, in the output that is showing as some other name instead of Angela.

    Have you tried duplicating the layouts so that you have one for each variable set so that the outputs go to different folders and so that you don't have to change the setting each time. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing but maybe this will fix the problem. Make sure you change the output folder in each layout.

    If not post back telling us if it is the same ones that stick each time.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    @petergrainge

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