Robohelp CHM file: search on keywords stopped working

[Frank Poell]

We create old skool helpfiles in CHM format. Still working fine for our purpose but after a reinstall of robohelp (due to a new image) the search on keywords in the newly generated helpfile does not give any results anymore.  

Same project just before the reinstall worked fine. See also the attachments.

Any idea what is causing this?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

You don't mention what version of RH, but did your reinstall put you at a different patch version?

[Frank Poell]

We were using Robohelp 2022, the same version before and after the reinstall. We just recently now updated to 2022.3.93 but the issue persists.

[Amebr · Accepted solution]

Try running MJ's Diagnostics to see if all the required DLLs are registered correctly. Unfortunately the helpware site seems to be defunct, but you can download from the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20231003102254/http://kb.helpwaregroup.com/ms-html-help/mj-s-diagnostics

You may also need to install HTML Help Workshop, which Microsoft no longer distributes, but again is available on the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20200101000000*/https://download.microsoft.com/download/0/A/9/0A939EF6-E...

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

Hmm, "Still working fine for our purpose" seems to be a matter of perspective...

As mentioned, the resources for CHM are outdated, and it's not a question of if you abandon it, but when.

You may need to move to a machine that has resources more in line with the specs required for your environment.

[Frank Poell]

Thanks all for the reply's. The suggestions Amebr gave did the trick! First installed the HTML help and after that registered all DLL's with MJ Diagnostics. 

After that the search on keywords works again!

[Jack26356426ennd]

I have this exact same issue, too. Followed the suggestion from Amebr but no resolution. Any other possible solutions?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Run through what you actually have done.

[Jack26356426ennd]

Thanks for your quick response. Actually, I did a reboot and tried it again and it all works.

1. Installed HTML Help Workshop

2. Ran MJ's Diagnostic as an admin and registered all the DLLs and OCXs.

3. Rebooted

4. Re-generated my output and Search function works properly 

Issue resolved.

Thank you!