New version no longer generates .cnt, .fts, or .hlp files?

[JKSeiderer]

Hi!  I inherited a project to update a Help application that hasn't been touched in 7 years.  I'm not sure what version the old one was in, I think it might have been 5, but I'm using Robohelp HTML version 7.  It seemed to convert my files fine and I've made my changes.  These are the output options I have available:

1. WebHelp
2. WebHelp Pro
3. FlashHelp
4. FlashHelp Pro
5. Microsoft HTML Help
6. XML Output

The developer who links to the Help application from his program is looking for three files ending in .cnt, .fts., and .hlp.  When I outputted mine to WebHelp (which is what I normally use), these three files were not created.  I researched the .cnt, .fts., and .hlp file types and discovered that they all seem to be opened primarily by Microsoft Help applications. This made me think that maybe I should be outputting the files as # 5, Microsoft HTML Help. Alas, none of the three required files were generated using this output method, either.  For good measure, I tried publishing the files as each of the 6 output options but no luck, the three required files were not generated using any of these methods.

This is making me think that maybe in the last 7 years, Robohelp has made some changes and it's no longer possible to output .cnt, .fts., or .hlp files.  Is this true?  If so, I'll have to get the developer to change his code to point to some other file type, perhaps the Microsoft HTML Help .chm file.  If it's not true, can anyone tell me how to generate these three files?  Thanks!

[RoboColum_n_]

What your developers are using is a WinHelp file. This is produced from the RoboHelp for Word application rather than the RoboHelp HTML application. Don't worry though as you still have this as part of Robohelp 7. Just look inside your All Programs list for it. It uses Word as the editor and produces the files your require. Of course your developer could also change the application to start using Webhelp which would negate you doing anything 😉

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[JKSeiderer]

Ah, I do have Robohelp 7 for Word on my desktop but I've never used it and I really didn't know what it was for.  So instead of opening the .xpj file in Robohelp HTML, I have to open a .hpj file instead?  I don't see any of those out there in my folders.  I would love for the developer to change the code instead but I'm not sure I have the clout to make that happen.    I guess I'll need to go figure out how to use Robohelp for Word.

[JKSeiderer]

Since I made all my changes in the .xpj file in Robohelp HTML, is there a way to bring that over into Robohelp for Word so I don't have to redo the work?

[RoboColum_n_ · Accepted solution]

That's right. You use the HPJ file to open the project. As for getting your changes into RH for Word, I'd output the project to a Word file (Printed Documentation and cut/paste the content into your RH for Word application. RH for Word uses .RTF files as the source so formatting should be maintained. Just be aware that if you have used functionality that is not available in WinHelp, this may cause issues.

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