RoboHelp 2022 command line generation scripting suggestions

[Attempted_Documentation]

Hello,
We are working on upgrading to RH2022 from RH2020. We have 50+ outputs, mostly PDFs, to generate from each of three projects, and a few from a fourth project. We have been using TCCLE to run the generation bat file, but unfortunately, this is not working with the newest version of RoboHelp, 2022.5. They don’t seem to work together.
I have seen references here to larger projects with greater numbers of outputs and I am hoping someone may have some suggestions for a scripting vehicle(?) that will help us get RH2022 to generate all my outputs reliably. 
I appreciate any suggestions and feedback that you are willing to share.
Thank you.

[WoutJacobs]

Generating that many outputs is certainly possible. Generating them reliably is a whole other beast.

In my scenario, I frequently have to generate 9 different pdf outputs with different expressions/TOCs from different projects. I've noticed that my custom publication tool cannot handle publications of more than 3 pdfs at a time without hanging indefinitely.

The average generation time per pdf (if successful) seems to be around 3 minutes when the computer is not being actively used.

I'm also not quite sure what you mean with 'not working with the newest version of RoboHelp'. The generation in RH2022.5 still works with commandline and TCC/LE (from what I can see) interacts with that.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Had to google that one - never heard of TCC/LE before.

[Attempted_Documentation]

Thank you for the response.

If I run a simple bat file using the command line output generation, I get the PDF outputs. When I run the same bat file using TCC/LE I get an error - "Command failed: java".  If I run a similar setup with RH2020, both attemps will give me outputs, no error.  Since the hang up seems to be in TCC/LE running the bat file, it is out of the relm of Support. So I am looking for an alternative. TCC/LE allows a greater use of variables and other things that are over my head.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Since I don't know anything about how TCC/LE works, do you just invoke the .bat file in it or do you have to recontruct its contents inside TCC/LE to make it work? Is there any kind of error logging or tracing that would allow you to figure out where it's going sideways? And you say that this works with RH2020 (on the same machine with the same version of TCC/LE that fails in RH2022)?

[Attempted_Documentation]

Invoking looks something like this:

"c:\resourcefolder\tcc.exe" "c:\projectfolder\make_pdfs.bat" 1parameter 2parameter

The parameters link to variables in the bat file, we use it to change build locaitons and branding.

I'm not sure about the logging or tracing. I'll have to research on the website.

I have used TCC/LE, on thiscomputer, with RH2017 and RH2020. I need to look into the version.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Are you following Peter's site's advice on command line generation? See https://www.grainge.org/RoboHelp_Tour/rh2022/outputs/command_line.htm 

[Attempted_Documentation]

Yes, his page provides a more colorful and easier to follow entry than the RoboHelp user's guide. The syntax hasn't changed much over the last several versions, except the parameter letters, and prior to RH2020 there was a separate .exe file for command line.

I would note that adding the following two lines, in between output entries, assist somewhat in batch file generation.

timeout 2 
TASKKILL /F /IM RoboHelp.exe /T

[WoutJacobs]

Then the issue probably lies with TCC/LE.

Ultimately, the commandline boils down to specifying which TOC you want to publish, where you want it published, and with which preset settings (expressions).

The lazy way is to manually create 50+ hard)coded batch scripts and have each one run in task scheduler. If the variables often change, you would need something slightly more complex.

[Attempted_Documentation]

Yes.
The harded coded approach is not ideal. The hope with this community post was that perhaps someone has a working solution for this situation. Thank you.