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Sir_Alfred_Oppenheimer
Participating Frequently
May 31, 2013
Answered

Windows 7 64 bit + IE10 = no pdf in HTML Help

  • May 31, 2013
  • 2 replies
  • 7242 views
  1. When I generate a .chm in RoboHelp and click to view the result: the .chm becomes displayed; when I click in the .chm on a link for opening a .pdf the .pdf is displayed correctly in the main .chm window.
  2. When I doubleclick the same .chm in the Windows Explorer: the .chm becomes displayed; when I click in the .chm on a link for opening a .pdf the .pdf is NOT displayed; instead a small grey icon is displayed in the main .chm window. This occurs on any pdf-link. It is impossible to show a .pdf included in a help-.chm.

It occurs on Windows 7 64 bit + IE10.

It does not occur on Windows 7 32 bit + IE10.

It does not occur on Windows 7 64 bit + IE9 or IE8.

Is there a solution?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer

Good evening, Keith

no news, on some machines I had to decompile the chm to make the help usable. This is of course not the intention of using a chm, but some machines are really disobedient...

Regards, Peter


I too encountered this problem, and have found solution for it.

Add the following attribute to your PDF hyperlinks in the html: target="_blank"

This attribute is used on webpages to instruct the browser to open a new window/tab to display the link in, rather than loading it in the current window/tab. In the HtmlHelp viewer, this causes the external PDF viewer (Adobe Reader) to start, and open the PDF file specified in the link. This enables you to get around not being able to view PDFs in-frame in the HtmlHelp viewer on 64bit systems (as described by the post http://helpman.it-authoring.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=12508 )

Example:

Before: <a href="/path/to/document.pdf">Click here to view PDF document</a>

After: <a href="/path/to/document.pdf" target="_blank">Click here to view PDF document</a>

2 replies

M
Magic_Peter
Participant
June 27, 2013

Good evening All,

it works for me now, though I can't say what gave the impulse.

1. I set maxallowedzone to 1

2. I installed Adobe reader XI.

now pdf are oopend in external Adobe Reader (not hh embedded), but they are displayed at least.

It still works when uninstalling Adobe Reader XI and going back to V9.x

I can say it will only work with set MaxAllowedZone to 1

What changes the installation of Adobe Reader XI did, to make it work is part of crystal ball work.

I could reproduce this positve outcome on a second notebook and I hope the next Windows update won't shoot it down again.

Regards, Peter

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 11, 2013

@Magic_Peter

Can you please advise where in the Registry you set the maxallowedzone to 1.

Was it

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions

so that your CHM could run on a network drive?

I'm thinking that Adobe Reader 11 fixed the problem and the above was just to do with the location of the CHM. Does that sound right?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

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A
Anonymous
July 11, 2013

Good Morning Peter,

good morning All,

yes the reg key you assumed is correct.

MS KB 896358 explains very profound the reason and possible workarounds for the disobedient chm files. The workaround discribed did not work for me though.

The values for maxallowedzones are defined as followes:

0 = My Computer
1 = Local Intranet Zone
2 = Trusted sites Zone
3 = Internet Zone
4 = Restricted Sites Zone

(found in techulator resources 4302)

Spend a nice day, Peter

RoboColum_n_
RoboColum_n_
Legend
May 31, 2013

How should we address you. I don't think we've had an enobled member on these forums before. Hopefully me tugging my receeding forelock will suffice

IE10 is not offically supported with RoboHelp output so this may just be something you'll have to live with until it is. Can you tell us what version of RoboHelp you used to create the CHM. Also can you tell us whether you are trying to open the CHM via Windows Explorer from the same PC on which it was compiled?

S
Sir_Alfred_OppenheimerAuthor
Participating Frequently
June 3, 2013

It is RoboHelp 10.

And the problem occurs on the same PC as well as on other PCs.

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 3, 2013

This fix is really for WebHelp but I have reason for thinking it might work here. I emphasise "might".

http://helpx.adobe.com/robohelp/kb/help-visible-using-win-8-ie.html

Try and post back, either way.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

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