Skip to main content
R
rlauriston
Inspiring
April 18, 2012
Answered

master ExtendScript to run FrameMaker and RoboHelp scripts?

  • April 18, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • 2533 views

I'm trying to automate generation of PDF in FrameMaker 10 and WebHelp from the same source in RoboHelp 9.

I have two scripts that are working, now I'm trying to run them as a single script.

Looking at a discussion about InDesign scripting (http://forums.adobe.com/thread/776832), I thought maybe the following would work:

robohelp.executeScriptFile("c:\\Users\\rlauriston\\Documents\\help_automation\\2_robohelp.jsx")

but when I debug it in ExtendScript Toolkit CS5.5, I get "robohelp is undefined".

Reading Adobe Creative Suite 5 JavaScript Tools Guide, I get the impression that this should work:

robohelp.executescript(

var projectPath = "C:\\Users\\rlauriston\\Documents\\My RoboHelp Projects\\AG\\SentrionAdminGuide.xpj";

main();

function main()

{

        if(projectPath == "")

        {

               //Error!. Quit RoboHelp

               alert("Project path is not defined. \nPlease update the 'projectPath' variable in the script.");

               RoboHelp.quit();

        }

        RoboHelp.openProject(projectPath); //Open the project

        RoboHelp.project.updateAll(true); //Update all linked documents (pass true for Force update)

          RoboHelp.closeProject(); //Close project

        RoboHelp.quit(); //Quit RoboHelp

}

)

but when I debug it I get "Illegal use of reserved word 'var'". If I move the var declaration to the top of the file, I get "Expected: )" on the semicolon after main().

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Willam van Weelden

I've got the two scripts, and I could use robohelp -x <script> to launch the second one, but I can't figure out how to chain them.

In the Creative Suite 5 JavaScript Tools Guide, it says that fileObj.execute() "Opens this file using the appropriate application, as if it had been double-clicked in a file browser. You can use this method to run scripts, launch applications, and so on." So it ought to be possible to have the FrameMaker script start a batch file that launches the RoboHelp script, but I can't find a sample script that does that, nor can I figure out from the documentation how to specify fileObj.

Also, using the ExtendScript Toolkit CS5.5 Object Model Viewer, I can't find an execute() function.


Hi,

For working with fileObj, you first need to create a file object.

//Create bat file object

var mybat = new File(“C:/mybatfile.bat”);

//Create content

var content = “\ndel /F /! \”” + mybat.fsName + “\””;

//Write content to bat file

mybat.open(“w”);//This will open for writing and create if not exists

mybat.write(content);

mybat.close();

//Run the bat file

mybat.execute();

If you want more examples, check the ePub generation script in RoboHelp 9. That uses the function writeFile (if I’m not mistaken) to write to a file.

Greet,

Willam

1 reply

Willam van Weelden
Willam van Weelden
Inspiring
April 19, 2012

As far as I can make out, everything after robohelp.executescript is considered an argument for the function executescript. Opening RoboHelp and run a script, see http://help.adobe.com/en_US/robohelp/robohtml/WS98613C7C-EF5B-48e9-A91A-D2AABB882687.html

For running both applications from a single script, I’ve been told you can use the Bridge features. But I’ve never seen an example of that.

Greet,

Willam

R
rlauristonAuthor
Inspiring
April 19, 2012

There's no framemaker.exe -x [scriptfilenames], is there?

Odd that there's no sample code, given how much time and effort Adobe clearly put into creating and sort-of documenting those cross-application features.

R
rlauristonAuthor
Inspiring
April 24, 2012

Indeed.when the file exists you can skip the step. But you have to be sure that the bat file contains the correct commands.

Greet,

Willam


Yes, and for a script that was going to be reused in various contexts generating the batch file might be a better choice. In this case, I already had the batch file working, and it contains additional commands that are executed after the RoboHelp script.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices