Making Flat Files for CHM Output

[Guest]

Hello,

We are working with Robohelp 9 (and Framemaker 10). We are creating a CHM file as output. In the past, we used Webworks and when we created the CHM file, it used a flat strucuture, meaning all the files were in the root directory.  However, in Robohelp, the CHM output files are in folders, not the root level. Is there a way to create the CHM output so that the files are in the root directory of the CHM file? The context sensitive help in out application is setup based on the URL in the CHM file. We don't want to have to include the directory path, if possible. I tried setting the Flat option in the .HHP file to Yes. However, when generating the output from Robohelp, it overwrites this option.  Does anyone know of a way to flatten the files for CHM output? I don't necessary want all the robohelp files in the same root directory, just store all the files that are part of the ouput in the CHM file.

Thanks,

Dawn

[Peter Grainge]

RoboHelp follows the file structure in your project so if that has folders, so will any output. Put them all in the root and that's where they will be in the output.

I haven't used WebWorks but presumably there was some setting that told it to work as if the files were in the root.

You can drag and drop your topics from their folders to the root as long as you do it within RoboHelp. RoboHelp will then correct all links.

However, do make a backup before you start. There are no guarantees.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Peter Grainge]

I'm just wondering if I am right on this as thinking some more, if you reverse engineer a CHM I think you lose the folder structure. I'll need to check that later or you can look at Reverse Engineering on my site.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Guest]

Peter,

I am not truly Reverse Engineer the CHM file, I only import the tripane pieice into Robohelp (none of the file structure). However, I do have what I am sure is a very basic Robohelp question. How do I drag topics to the top level folder. From the Topic List pod? Can I do more than one at once.... that does not appear to be working for me..

Thanks,

Dawn

[Peter Grainge]

If you have identified that really is what you want, then you do the dragging and dropping in Project Manager, not the Topic List.

Sorry but it is one at a time. Once you have a few topics moved you can drag up to that bunch of files and then release the mouse anywhere in the group, you don't have to locate the folder accurately.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Peter Grainge]

... and don't forget to make a copy of the project first, just in case you get it wrong.

---

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Guest]

Thank you Peter. I will give it a try. If not, I may just go ahead and leave the file structure as is and modify the entries in our application.

-Dawn