Cannot move project with Framemaker reference to another PC

[Guest]

I have a projekt that comprises a Framemaker import by reference. This is organized in one directory with two subdirectories (one for the Framemaker sources and one for the RH project).

When I move (copy) the complete master directory to a network drive and move it to another PC, i.e., copy it to the local harddisc, then I cannot use it any more. When I open the Robohelp project then all Framemaker references are lost (even though the spource documents are still there in the subdirectory next to the RH project). When I update the references using the corresponding right mouse click function, then RoboHelp crashes each time I try to update or force a re-import. The project cannot be repaired any more and remains unusable.

On the other hand, if I move the project from the network drive back to the original PC but to another location, the references remain correct and the project works.

Is this a common issue or rather specifiy to our working environment? Moving projects between working places should not be a problem.

[JainVivek]

Let me try and explain what RoboHelp does when you add a FrameMaker document by reference. RoboHelp maintains a link to the FrameMaker source document and maintains a "Listener" which lets RoboHelp know when a change is made to FrameMaker source document. If you notice there is an icon in RoboHelp project manager which tells you that FrameMaker source document is changed. This change in status is an important visual feedback to authors to make sure they update the content before they publish the final output.

Moving the RoboHelp project to another machine is breaking this live link and hence the issue you are seeing. Please delete the reference before you copy the project and then add the FrameMaker file again. I hope this helps.

[Guest]

Hi Jain,

thanks for the explanation - actually we tried not to break the link by placing both, the FM sources and the RoboHelp project in the same master directory. So both are always moved at the same time, and the relative path remains the same. Evidently RoboHelp uses absolute paths somewere. What really created problems was that was not possible to reassign the framemaker book (rightclick on the icon in the project manager -> properties -> last tab). The project was simply lost and cannot even be used at the original location on the original PC any more.

Robert