Link/Map IDs just... disappeared.

Report · Sep 19, 2013

Hi all -

I'm using RH HTML 9 to maintain our help file, and I've come into a fairly big (okay, devastating) issue with our map files. The issue is that they are just... gone. All my topics were correctly linked yesterday, but when I opened up RH today the links were gone from the Topic Properties menu and I am unable to add/link new IDs:

I'm not quite sure what would have caused this, as the file location hasn't changed and I haven't done anything other than generate a new version of the project. Anyone have any ideas?

I'm not well-versed in the behind-the-scenes workings of RH, so I'm not quite sure what to do here. Please help!

Thanks,

Erin

Report · Sep 20, 2013

Are there any map files displayed in the Project Setup pod. If there are, open these and see if the mapids are displayed there and whether they are assigned to anything.

If as it sounds you have no map files at all in the project, not even the default BSSCDefault.h file, try opening Windows Explorer and looking for any files that maybe there with a .h, .hh or .hm extension. If you can find your map file there, open it up in Notepad and see if it looks something like this.

This file contains a list of the mapids that you use to map to your topics. Next see if you have a <projectname>.ALI file. Open this up in Notepad and see it it looks anything like this.

This file is the link between your mapids and the topics. Come back when you have done this and we'll take things to the next step. If things appear OK, there is the option to import a map file which may correct things, but let's take things one step at a time.

Report · Sep 20, 2013

So... I found some interesting things.

My map files *are* there - it just looks like all of them are unlinked. I opened up a few of the .h/.hh files and all of them look like your second screen capture.

I also opened the .ali file - it's completely blank, and it obviously shouldn't be...

Any ideas for a next step, or am I just stuck with this mess?

Report · Sep 20, 2013

Do you have a backup? You can just replace the ALI file, trash the CPD and reopen the file.

Is there a relation between the map ids and the topics? For example, the title of the topic may be the same as the map id. If there is such a relation, a script may be able to quickly recover the .ALI file for you.

Do you have a working WebHelp output? An ALI file can be regenerated from an output.

Greet,

Willam

Report · Sep 20, 2013

I checked my backup and the .ali file is blank there too... I had such high hopes.

And there kind of is. I inherited this project from several tech writers before me, none of whom named the corresponding map ID with the topic name. I was the one who started doing that. So, unfortunately that won't work.

Do you mean a working, generated version of the project? If that's the case then yes, I do have one that works.

Report · Sep 20, 2013

Other than scripting I can't think of a way of recovering the alias file. As Willam is the King of Scripting, I've leave you in his capable hands. All hail the King!!

Report · Sep 20, 2013

Hopefully the King can help

Any idea why this file just went blank, though? I tried to do some research but didn't find any definitive cause - just a few other users who had the same issue.

Report · Sep 23, 2013

Can you send me a mail with the output zipped up to contact wvanweelden eu? I'll see what I can do.

Greet,

Willam

Report · Oct 03, 2013

I didn't receive an email. Do you still require help?

Greet,

Willam

Report · Dec 02, 2013

Hello,

Can you tell me if this issue was ever resolved? I have recently had the same problem of disappearing links between Map IDs and topics. I started another discussion before I found this one.

Thanks.

Carma

Report · Dec 06, 2013

Hi there-

I resolved it by taking a look at the backups I had in Carbonite. I found a relatively recent version of the master map file and then copied it over to the project folder, which solved my problem. If there's some other solution that involves doing scripting or digging in RH, I don't know anything about it - sorry!

Maybe try asking William (his post is a few above this one) for help? He seemed to have a good idea and may be able to guide you.