Convert .chm to PDF

[Guest]

I have the trial version of RoboHelp 8.0.0.203. I want to convert an existing .chm file to a PDF. How do I do that?

[Peter Grainge]

Whatever authoring tool you use, you have to get that CHM converted to a source project first. See Reverse Engineering on my site for information on how to do that. Then you generate a printed document selecting the PDF option.

I believe there are tools that will take a CHM and generate a PDF but they will not allow any editing, they just convert from one format to the other.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[johndaigle]

Hi, smithn00 and welcome to the Forums

First, to clarify. If you already have a RoboHelp project and have compiled a .chm (HTML Help) output, then you simply use a different SSL (Printed Documentation) to produce the PDF.

On the other hand I think you may be saying you have a .chm file but not the source material? If that is the scenario, then I would decompile the .chm into its project parts. You can do this regardless of what tool was used to create it. Once you have the source material, open the resulting .hhp file in RoboHelp to create the project. Then use the Printed Documentation Single Source Layout (SSL) to produce the PDF using the options and preferences found in the wizard dialogs.

For methods to decompile the .chm, go to Peter Grainge's site http://www.grainge.org/pages/authoring/reverse_engineering/reverse_engineering.htm where you'll find out how the reverse engineering is done. I personally prefer the Method 2 (KeyTools).

John Daigle

Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor

www.showmethedemo.com

[Guest]

Thanks for your quick reply. When I double click on "Printed Documantation", I get a message that says it can't find MSWord. I don't have word on this machine. What now?

[Peter Grainge]

Sorry but Word is a requisite of producing a Word document or a PDF. No way around that.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[RoboColum_n_]

I'm coming in on this thread a little late but there are a number of shareware applications that will convert a CHM to a PDF. I can't vouch for the results though. That said, if you have a RH8 trial, I go with Peter and John and say the Printed Documentation feature is the way forward and well worth getting Word installed so you can use it.

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[VikramGaur]

Hello,

I know I am late on this thread, if you have RH8 and if you see "HTML Help Studio" in your toolbox (View -> Toolbox)

Then you can open your .CHM file, it will open the project files

Once you have the project save then you can convert it in .PDF using the Printed Documentation.

Hope it helps !!

Thanks

Vikram

[joshua2046]

Thank for your useful info.

[Guest]

Mr. Daigle,

I tried to follow your above post and it worked. But one of the problems that I am facing at the final stage for Printed Documentation Single Source Layout is that it shows that I need to hava MS Word with SR-2 or later eben though I have Office 2013 installed. How can I resolve this?

Awaiting your reply.

[RoboColum_n_]

Can you tell us what version of RoboHelp you are using?

[Guest]

I am using RoboHelp 10.

[Peter Grainge]

Although you have latched onto this thread, it sounds like your problem is really creating a printed document from your project using Word 2013.

That version is not compatible but there is a workaround. See Item 7 at http://www.grainge.org/pages/authoring/rh10/using_rh10.htm

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge