Failed to Generate WinHelp message

Report · Jul 15, 2007

We had several help projects that were in RoboHelp X3. We recently upgraded to X6, and for some reason these projects won't compile. We're getting "Failed to Generate WinHelp" in the compile feedback message, but there are no errors or information about the issue. From what I can tell, the projects that are hitting this are ones that were renamed at some point. When they were renamed, it changed the hpj file and some of the supporting files, but left several of the others (hpr, prs, etc.) with the old name. (I'm not sure if that's the issue, but that's the one consistency I could find in the projects that are hanging.) I tried manually renaming the files with the old name, but that didn't work. Any ideas?

Report · Jul 15, 2007

Hi kfielder

Would I be correct in assuming that if you create a totally new project using RoboHelp 6 that it works with no issue?

I'm guessing that if you upgraded, you would still be able to create WinHelp projects, as the compiler would still be on your PC. However, I do know that in version 6, Adobe is not including the Microsoft HTML Help compiler as eHelp used to. So it would stand to reason that they would also elect not to include the WinHelp compiler. But if this were the case, I would think th eissue would only be seen on a PC where nothing had yet been installed. You were installing RoboHelp totally fresh. An upgrade would (should) have the compiler there.

Cheers... Rick

Report · Jul 15, 2007

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the reply. We have about 25 small help projects, and only five of them are giving me problems, so the compiler itself is working. (This is also a new computer. I did have to go get the HTML compiler, but WinHelp worked out of the box.)
Kathy

Report · Jul 15, 2007

Hi again Kathy

I must first off offer my sincere apologies. I'm woefully ill equipped to assist much in the way of WinHelp projects. I've so long ago departed from that world.

However, in case someone else can't jump in here with a reasonable fix for you, I'm wondering if the following would be a good approach.

As you seem to have no issues creating new projects, simply rename the location where the existing (and errant) projects are located. Then create a new project with the expected name. Then just import the existing Word document(s) that constitute the "bad" project.

Just a thought... Rick

Report · Jul 15, 2007

Hi Rick,
Thanks for jumping in to help. I'm in the same boat as you; I've been working with HTML recently and I'm trying to remember stuff from eight years ago.

I'd thought of just starting over and may end up having to do that, but I'm a little nervous. I inherited these projects and the folders aren't clean (multiple .hh files with different names, but which seem to contain the same thing, multiple .hlp files with different names generated around the same date, etc.). I'm a little afraid I'm going to break the context sensitive help if I start over. I was hoping someone would have a clean solution, but I may have to just bite the bullet and plan on testing the context sensitive help really, really well.

Thanks again for the effort.
Kathy

Report · Jul 15, 2007

Hi again Kathy

I totally understand the nervousness.

Keep in mind that one way to "start clean" is to leave everything as is, folder names and all. Then just create a new folder on your hard drive in a different location and begin from there. Import as needed and test test test. I'm not claiming it will all be rosy and seamless, but you may be surprised as to how well it could work.

Cheers and good luck! Rick