RH 7 creates impossibly large RTF file

[BruceKula]

I'm trying out RH 7 on XP, using Word 2003. It works fine for small files. When I try to import a large (27 MB) Word file with many graphics, RH creates an RTF file that is 2.1 GB. I don't have the time to wait to see if Word can save it. Is there a workaround for this?

[BruceKula]

Here's a more detailed description of what I see; perhaps it will evoke some response.
1. In RoboHelp for Word, I import a large Word document, saving it in the project directory.
2. I am asked whether I also want to save the document template. I do.
3. Graphics are converted.
4. The "Converting style to topic" message appears repeatedly until Word runs out of memory. I am warned that no "undo" will be possible; I answer "Yes" to proceed anyway.
5. The conversion apparently proceeds. But a check of CPU usage says there’s nothing happening. I must cancel both Word and RoboHelp.
Left behind is the .doc file (which was a huge 27 MB) and the .rtf file RoboHelp created (which is 77 times bigger still).

Bruce

[David Hurlston]

Are the graphics embedded in the document? That would produce a large file size.

If so, better to place the graphics in a folder and insert them by reference using the "Insert Help Image" approach.

[Peter Grainge]

That is a large Word file, at one time that was bordering on the limit Microsoft recommended.

It would also require quite a bit of RAM to cope. How much do you have?

Split your document into say three parts and try that.

You might find if you did leave it the import would work but at that size I am doubtful. Leave it overnight?

[BruceKula]

The graphics are not embedded, thanks, David.
Peter, I've got a meager 500 MB of RAM. I imagine throwing more RAM at the problem might help, and I have no doubt that if I divided the file into pieces I could make it work-- RH for Word worked fine on a similar but much smaller manual.
But I can't help but think that the 2.1 GB RTF file is symptomatic of a bug. Doc-To-Help-- which handles the file-- creates a 2 MB RTF file. It logically should be smaller than the .doc version, which has all the graphics in it.
Thanks for your suggestions,
Bruce

[Peter Grainge]

I am not surprised it won't import a document that size. It's like try to tow a lorry with a car.

I think the massive file size is transitory and would revert to normal on completing the process.

We just discovered that the laptop of one of my guys only had 512mb of ram. We upped it to 3gb and it reduced compile time of a 12,000 merge setup by 3 hours.

[BruceKula]

I let RoboHelp run all weekend on a machine with 2 GB of RAM and it still said it was "Saving" my file on Monday morning. I very much doubt it.

Bruce

[Peter Grainge]

Are you willing to send me the Word document? If you are email me and I will send you some FTP instructions. Please do not attach the document to your email.