RH7 Error: Failed to read from log... Failed to generate WebHelp Pro

[rune1io]

Installed RH9 trial on Windows XP PC. Then, generated an existing project using RH7 to a new C: drive directory location on the PC using the same name. Renamed the project files in that C:drive directory to a test name and opened the project's .xpj file in RH9.  It converted cleanly. 

Now, when I go to generate the RH7 original project from the original server directory, I receive:  

Error: Failed to read from log (file name) .log.... Internal error encountered,  Failed to generate WebHelp Pro.

Does the log file keep track of the previous generation (time stamp,etc), since this RH7 generation has a skip in it for the one generated to the C:drive?  I've compared the log files from each run (.txt files) and don't see a difference. I even copied the log file from the C:drive run to the Server directory. No luck.  Any ideas?

[johndaigle]

Hi. Sorry I'm not following you.

You mention "generate the RH7 original project from the original server directory", are you referring to the original RH 7 source project? If so, it should be on your local hard drive, not a server directory.

Which version of RoboHelp Server are you using? (7,8 or 9?) Did you download and install the RH Server 9 as well as the client app?

I'm unclear whether you are trying to open a RH 7 project that you inadvertently opened (and permanently upgraded) to RH 9?

Also, give us some background on what you are trying to accomplish. Are you trying  to evaluate RH 9/RH Server 9?

Sorry if I've misunderstood. Please take another crack at this.

john

John Daigle

Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor

Evergreen, Colorado

www.showmethedemo.com

[rune1io]

Hi John,

Thanks for the prompt response. I am trying to evaluate RH9 / RH Server 9.

When I generate RH7 projects, I’ve always put the server (RH7 Server) directory reference in the ‘Output Folder and Start Page’ field. This directory reference is where the compiled output ends up right? In my case, it’s in that field as:
PBSrobohelp\D$\RoboHelp <file:///
PBSrobohelp\D$\RoboHelp> Web Files\PBS Unit Processes Manual. I’m not aware of a C:Drive local copy of the files. Doesn’t it go out to the server output for the .log file in question?

For the test, I took an existing project in RH7 and replaced this server reference with a C:Drive local hard drive directory reference and ran the output to it. Then I went to the C:Drive directory and changed the project name, because there doesn’t appear to be a way to do a ‘save as’ on a project – RH7 wants to keep that name badly. I then, shutdown RH7 and started RH9. I opened the .xpj file from the new test project copy. It recognized that it was from an older release and it converted the test copy to RH9. It converted cleanly with about 2 inconsequential document warnings but did not create a TOC. I looked it over and saved it in RH9 – it was already my test name.

The original RH7 project opens fine in RH7 and the Test RH9 project opens fine in RH9. So I think I have a good test copy. It’s just that when I point the RH7 original to the Server Output folder (which has its files) it gets the error on generation.

We are evaluating RH Server 9 but I haven’t attempted to publish anything to it yet. I’ve stayed purely on my desktop.

Hope this clears it up.

Jim

Jim Dages

Business Professional Technician III

University of Colorado, Payroll & Benefit Services

1800 Grant St, Suite 400

Denver, CO 80203

t. 303-860-4230

f. 303-860-4299

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[rune1io]

Hi John,

Did my clarification make sense?  I can compile RH7 to my C: Drive successfully, but when I use the RH7 Server network address I get warnings on each document stating "cannot be copied":

Warning: "C:\Documents and Settings\dages\Desktop\PBS Unit Processes Manual\Training_and_Documentation\TD - HRMS Documentation Responsibilities_files\image029.jpg" cannot be copied to "\\PBSrobohelp\D$\RoboHelp Web Files\PBS Unit Processes Manual \Training_and_Documentation\TD_-_HRMS_Documentation_Responsibilities_files\image029.jpg". reason: unexpected error.

Then I get the "error to read from log" message. Perhaps because there is nothing to process?

Updating HTML topics...
Finished updating HTML topics in 0 sec(s) : total 0 topic(s).

Processing Full-text-search data...

Finished processing Full-Text-Search data in 0 sec(s)

Applying WebHelp Pro 5.50 Template...
..................................................................................................
Finished applying Template in 0 sec(s)

Processing Mark of the Web...
Error: Failed to read from log \\PBSrobohelp\D$\RoboHelp Web Files\PBS Unit Processes Manual \PBS Unit Processes Manual  .log....
Internal error encountered,  Failed to generate WebHelp Pro.

Thanks,

Jim

[johndaigle]

Hi, Jim

You're really confusing me now 🙂

You said you are evaluating RH 9 and RH Server 9 and yet you're explaining how you're compiling RH *7* to the RH7 Server Network???

Aside from that, RoboHelp 7 used very old technology from before Adobe bought Macromedia. It's been so long since I've used RoboHelp 7 but the publishing path you show doesn't look correct at all!
It should be some kind of IP address or domain name as the server destination. Also, as I recall, you have to make sure your permissions from your desktop to the server are correct. Network permission conflict between author and server are often the source of error messages. This must be sorted out by your network admins.

In any event, there was a MAJOR change introduced between RH 7 and RH 8 and then RH 9. Namely tossing out the old Windows IIS requirement and the addition of the open sourced Apache Tomcat Server. So, you and your web admins need to read the documentation on how the server is to be installed before trying to publish. It most definitely is not possible to publish RH 7 project to a trial RH 9 Server. The scenario that would work is this:

1. Install the Apache Tomcat Server (free)
2. Install the trial of RH Server 9
3. Install trial of RH 9
4. Open (a backup) of your legacy RH 7 project in the trial of RH 9. This will upgrade the content to be compatible with the RH 9 Server.
5. Once that is done, then publish RH 9 WebHelp Pro to the RH 9 Server destination (IP address) your web admin gives you. You can also install the Tomcat Server on your own machine and use "localhost" as your server. If you are not familiar with this, ask your IT folks.

Finally I note this from your post:

Processing Mark of the Web...
Error: Failed to read from log \\PBSrobohelp\D$\RoboHelp Web Files\PBS Unit Processes Manual \PBS Unit Processes Manual  .log....
Internal error encountered,  Failed to generate WebHelp Pro.

You should be sure to REMOVE "Mark of the Web" when you are ready to publish to a server (whether WebHelp or WebHelp Pro). Mark of the Web is for local viewing only.

Hopefully this will help.

John

[rune1io]

Hi John,

Thank you for the scenario for RH 9 install. That will be very helpful.

Yes, I am evaluating RH9 and RH Server 9. That’s why I created a parallel test environment to keep my Production RH7 environment intact. The RH7 environment remains my production environment until we migrate to RH9. My problem is that the publishing path I’ve been using for 3 years in RH7 client, has stopped working with the same parameters, it has always used to connect to the RH7 server.

I’ve attached images of the path that has worked for 3 years and still connects when prompted as I open the RH7 projects in the client – (the path and permissions appear ok). If you re-read the original entry to this discussion, you’ll see that I changed this path in the Output Folder and Start Page to a test C:Drive folder to create my test copy of my project. After that, I set the path back to the RH7 path you see in the screen print 1. This is the RH7 server path that has worked for 3 years, but now is generating the error message I’ve outlined in this discussion. I am unable to publish in RH7.

Hope this helps,

Thanks,

Jim

Jim Dages

Business Professional Technician III

University of Colorado, Payroll & Benefit Services

1800 Grant St, Suite 400

Denver, CO 80203

t. 303-860-4230

f. 303-860-4299

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE - This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you must not read this transmission and that any disclosure, copying, printing, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or return e-mail and delete the original transmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner. Thank you.