How to switch to Help format that supports search ranking.

[egetts]

We are currently using RoboHelp for Word, generating HTML Help files. I want to switch to another format that supports search ranking. What formats support search ranking and how do I convert to this format? I tried just changing my primary layout to WebHelp and generated the output, but the search results did not have the Rank column.

[Peter Grainge]

Please see Before You Post at http://forums.adobe.com/community/robohelp/robohelp_word and include the version you are using.

In RoboHelp 8 and 9 search ranking is supported for WebHelp, FlashHelp and AIR Help if you are using RoboHelp HTML. Without testing I don't know if RoboHelp for Word 8 or 9 also support search ranking.

If you create context sensitive help, your developers would need to be involved in the change as it would affect the calls.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[egetts]

Hi Peter,

Thank you. I have RoboHelp for Word 8. I did test WebHelp in that version and it does support search ranking.

It appears that for us to convert to WebHelp (our help file is used for application help), it is pretty easy. We just need to change the call to the help file from the application to a new starting file, and package up a set of .htm files instead of the one .chm file we are packaging now. I noticed some conversion issues (some hyphens and apostrophes are dropped and replaced with blanks). So there will be some fixing of the converted files to do, but overall it doesn't seem to be a large effort to convert.

Do you know of anything else I need to be concerned with?

Thank you!

[Peter Grainge]

I assume you are not using context sensitive help as you only have to change one call.

Issues with RoboHelp HTML 8 are documented on my site but I don't work with RoboHelp for Word so I cannot help you there. Maybe it's time to convert as there is much more support for RoboHelp HTML.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge