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SOLpubs
Participating Frequently
January 28, 2014
Question

RoboHelp 10 can't update linked FrameMaker book

  • January 28, 2014
  • 1 reply
  • 1232 views

TCS 4

Linked FrameMaker book

HTML Help output

When I open a previously working project and go to update the FrameMaker files, the Update and Update All options are greyed out.

A possible culprit is that Windows Update ran automatically while the project was open, and then restarted the machine.

If I Force Update All, RH launches an instance of FM, which doesn't open anything and remains on its startup screen. If FM is already running with the book + .fm files open, another instance of FM starts w/o loading any files. RH then hangs, going into a "Not responding" state in Task Manager.

If I start a new blank project and attempt to link to the FM book, RH launches another blank instance of FM and hangs.

I tried opening the project and exporting the project settings in an .isf file, but RH hangs trying to scan.

i tried relinking the FM book, but RH launches another blank instance of FM and hangs.

i tried deleting the book, but RH hung partially through the deletion.

i tried reinstalling RH. Same behavior.

Is there some file I can delete and/or restore to reacquiant FM and RH?

Note that when Windows Update ran the FM book was open too, and when I subsequently generated/updated the book, some files were listed as missing and some cross-refs were broken. This was fixed by replacing the broken cross-refs. The FM book generated/updated with no errors before the first attempt to update in RH.

Thanks.

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    1 reply

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 28, 2014

    The launch of FM at the Starter screen when linking or importing into RH is normal behaviour. You can speed things up a bit by having a session already launched when you start RH up.

    It sounds like the RH project may have been corrupted – have you tried deleting the .CPD file, opening RH and opening the project, then doing a Force Update All?

    S
    SOLpubsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 28, 2014

    Thanks for responding Jeff.

    I deleted the .cpd file and opened the project by double-clicking the .xpj file. It scans for a while, then displays "Failed to get any FrameMaker document from D:\<path to book>". When I click OK in that message, it goes back to the "Processing FrameMaker files" and then launches a second instance of FM.

    Note: If I have FM open already when I try to update, RH launches another instance. It doesn't see the first instance.

    Also Note: It does this when I start a new blank project and link to that book.

    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 4, 2014

    Summary

    This issue was resolved.

    It seems to have been a registry corruption on my machine due to a Windows Update restart that occurred when the Help project and FrameMaker project were open.

    The main symptom was that RoboHelp could no longer update the project from the FrameMaker files and was spawning a new instance of FM with each retry, even if FM was already open.

    I tried lots of things: opened a new project, restored a backup copy of project, attempted an export of project etc., etc. (see above).

    The solution was to:

    - revert to a "known good" restore point in Windows (before the auto-update)

    - deactivate and uninstall TCS 4

    - run Windows Update

    - re-install TCS 4

    - turn automatic Windows Updates OFF

    Everything in FrameMaker and RoboHelp generates properly now.


    Wow, what a mess – I’m glad you managed to tease out the issue.

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