Caching Issues with Frameless Output

[KeithVECognero]

I used build our help with a Responsive HTML preset that used the Azure Blue template for the layout.

I recently changed to a frameless preset that uses the Top Navigation template for the layout.

Since I've made the change, there have been issues when the help is deployed. The intro page will not display the top navigation. After about a half-hour, the page will refresh and the navigation will display. We've trying putting code into the pages to force them to refresh, but it doesn't work. The issue seems to be with the skin template. 

These are the errors we're seeing in the console.

topicpage.js:1 Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')
at e.value (topicpage.js:1:68122)
at e.value (topicpage.js:1:67497)
at topicpage.js:1:67096
at e.exports (topicpage.js:51:38605)
at e.exports [as map] (topicpage.js:51:115139)
at e.value (topicpage.js:1:67068)
at usersettings.js:33:9
at usersettings.js:62:3

intro.htm:1 Refused to apply style from 'https://dev210.cognero.com/Help/TestGenerator/template/Azure_Blue/userstyles.css' because its MIME type ('text/html') is not a supported stylesheet MIME type, and strict MIME checking is enabled.

intro.htm:1 Refused to apply style from 'https://dev210.cognero.com/Help/TestGenerator/template/Azure_Blue/userstyles.css' because its MIME type ('text/html') is not a supported stylesheet MIME type, and strict MIME checking is enabled.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

You don't mention what version of RH you're running and creating this output in, but Patch 5 just got released, so you might want to grab a copy of it on another non-RH machine and try it out with a copy of your content.

[KeithVECognero]

I'm using version 2022.0.346

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

So you're several versions behind - try updating to at least Patch 3 and see if there's any difference - (Patch 4 has some issues that Patch 5 are supposedly correcting).

[KeithVECognero]

I installed the new version of RoboHelp, upgraded the project, and built the output again. The problem is still occuring.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

What patch version?

[KeithVECognero]

2022.5.28

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Does the output misbehave when you generate locally or just when placed on a web server?

[KeithVECognero]

Web server

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

If it only misbehaves on the web server, then it's got something to do with your settings on that web server. Have you contacted the RH folks about it? See https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/enterprise-support.other.html#robohelp for your Adobe Support options. I'd recommend using the tcssup@adobe.com e-mail address as it reaches a team dedicated to Technical Communication Suite products including RoboHelp.

[KeithVECognero]

Just opened a ticket.

[Peter Grainge]

Have you tried deleting everything from the server and then publishing again?

________________________________________________________
My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[KeithVECognero]

That's been our process. We delete the old files from the server and then upload the new ones. Then we do an IIS reset.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Hmm, if your IT doesn't turn anything up, then I'd give the RH folks a ping.

[KeithVECognero]

The only thing our IT can think to do is change the name of the folder where the help is stored and then re-code the app to point to the new location.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

That doesn't sound too sustainable - give the RH folks a ping.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Quick google reveals that IIS has some policy settings about output caching - have they poked around in the IIS Manager settings? 

[KeithVECognero]

I have checked with our dev team. They have reviewed the IIS Manager settings and are unwilling to make changes as they will affect response time. Also, if even if they made changes, users will only see the updated help after they clear their cache. 

I sent an email to tcssup@adobe.com on 9/26 and have yet to hear back.

[Peter Grainge]

This is a well known method of refreshing every time the user accesses the page.

Either inject it into the head section of every topic or put it in the head section of a topic layout.

<meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache" />
<meta http-equiv="Expires" content="-1" />
<meta http-equiv="Cache-Control" content="no-cache" />

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[KeithVECognero]

We've tried this, but it doesn't solve the issue. The issue is with the top navigation not loading. It is still looking for the Azure Blue template. Putting this code into the individual pages does not force the navigation header to reload. If there's a way to put this into the Top Navigation template. I'd be happy to try that. 

[Peter Grainge]

In that case I would try what you suggested at https://community.adobe.com/t5/robohelp-discussions/caching-issues-with-frameless-output/m-p/1488479...

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

That the post where it was suggested to rename the output folder each time?

[Peter Grainge]

@Jeff_Coatsworth I don't read it as each time and given the change of template I think it worth a shot, even though the old folder has been flushed.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.