Robohelp 2020 Frameless pdf download button

[Achal__]

In Robohelp 2020, I have used the dark skin with skin homepage. I am adding a pdf for the Reader to down the complete guide in pdf. I can see that the pdf download button is added to the Topic Page. Is it possible to move it to the guide's homepage? Attaching images for more understanding. Why I am asking this because I am giving the entire pdf to be downloaded, not only one topic. So ideally putting it on the homepage will be more logical.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

How did you add the Download button? What's your output Preset look like? I suspect you haven't indicated the correct start page, but I can't be sure.

[Achal__]

Once we add the pdf file in the Preset settings, the download button is automatically enabled on the topic page.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Are you giving it a Home page in that Layout tab?

[Achal__]

There is no option to select the Homepage layout, by default it is enabled on the Topic page

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

No, I'm talking about that "Home Page" field - 2 fields down from that "PDF to Download" field you filled in.

[Achal__]

that basically allows selecting a topic which is displayed just below the Tiles on the homepage

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Ah, well then I think you're going to have to involve a web developer to mess around with your output to get that download button placed where you want it.

[Achal__]

Is that level of customization possible in the output?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I'm sure it is - they're just web pages after all. You'd have to reapply any customization each time you generated unless they can hack the source files.

[Amebr]

The User Assets section of the skin is for adding supporting files to your skin. So if the button can be added using javascript you can add the javascript and supporting files such as images there, and you won't have to worry about modifying the output after generating. A web developer should be able to help if you have access to one.

[Peter Grainge]

I don't think you can put an image on the Home Page to download the PDF but you can put a link there.

Click Add Link and complete these fields.

You will need to work out the URL to where the PDF is located on the server. There isn't an option to use an image.

If you remove the topic link, the PDF will need to be uploaded manually. You could add it to the TOC and select the Hide option. Then users will not see it there although that would give them a further access point.

There is of course a danger they will download the PDF and then use that and miss updates in the online help.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[Achal__]

Hi @Peter Grainge , Yes this option I am trying to work out the URL part. 

[Achal__]

@Peter Grainge What will be the URL format if we are giving a topic link?

[Peter Grainge]

Open it from a topic page on the server which is already uploading it. That should give you the URL.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[Peter Grainge]

Same answer. Open the topic and grab the URL.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[Achal__]

Actually, this help guide is supposed to be shipped with the Product. And I want to keep it internally in the project folder and give a link, so even if the system is offline, the user can download the pdf. In another word, I want to give a file link from the asset folder.

[Peter Grainge]

Now you tell us. 🙂

That does complicate it a bit. What I would try is putting the PDF in the assets folder and then adding a to it in the TOC. Select Hide so the user does not see it there. That will get the PDF uploaded with the project. Then generate an output and locate the PDF in that. What I think you need is a relative path from the index.htm file to the PDF.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

[Achal__]

@Peter Grainge Just trying to find the relative path from the index.htm file 

[Achal__]

The solution for this is the browse option which is added in RH 2022. https://tracker.adobe.com/#/view/RH-10539

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Sounds like going to RH2022 makes sense then.

[Achal__ · Accepted solution]

@Peter Grainge @Jeff_Coatsworth @Amebr I tried giving the pdf filename in the URL field and pasting the pdf file into the output folder. It redirects and works well then.

[Peter Grainge]

Why paste it in, too easy to forget an update later? I have already explained how to make it upload when you generate.

________________________________________________________

My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.