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September 26, 2008
Question

New to robohelp

  • September 26, 2008
  • 2 replies
  • 790 views
I am trying to develop a javahelp application using robohelp but have the following problem:
I have imported numerous HTML files. In the TOC I have created a book and grouped some of the topics in that book. When the application is launched I would like the user to be able to click on the book and a blank screen display(i.e. map the book to a blank file??) and allow the user to select which pages from within that book they would like to view. Can this be done without editing the map file.

Thanks for your help.
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    2 replies

    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    September 26, 2008
    I think it may be advisable to go back to the client and ask them if they want a good or bad help file. If the later they are sure going about things the right way! Maybe get some users to give their viewpoint would persuade them?
    Inspiring
    September 26, 2008
    I totally agree with Colum and Leon. I would stare at a blank screen for several minutes, while cursing Windows (the scapegoat for everything), before I would even notice the TOC. But here is what you would do. Create a topic (blank, if you must) and link it to your book. Also link it to the context help. Then when the help is fired you get what you (or your management - you wouldn't be Dilbert, would you?) wants.

    Personally, I'd take the 'blank' topic and sneak in a few links - "background" or "instructions" - just so something loads when the topic is opened. Or you could follow Colum's lead (which had me laughing) and link to "good help" or "bad help" - the "bad help" opening the requested blank page. In the theme of another thread going, you could put a hit counter on the bad help and see how many users actually choose that option.

    John
    MergeThis
    Inspiring
    September 26, 2008
    ROTFLMAO!!!!

    Thanks for the much needed chuckle, John!

    I'm still giggling to myself as I type this... Rick

    Hey, Rick, no texting while you're driving!
    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    September 26, 2008
    Hi hurls123 and welcome to the RH community.

    You seem to already have a map file with some mapids? If so, you can assign one of the mapids to the blank topic and then code the application to open it.

    My question is why you want this approach. The whole point of context sensitive help is that the F1 key takes you directly to help related to the application dialog the user displays.
    September 26, 2008
    Hi Colum,

    Thanks for your reply.
    Maybe I'm not explaining myself very well.
    What i have are 2 files - one with background details on topics and the other with instruction details on topics. There are duplicate topics between the files.
    TOC in application with look like this
    LDU_NO
    Background

    What the user has requested is this: