Topics not displaying in CHM window

[Scott24846338ewcn]

I've used RH2022 to generate Microsoft HTML Help (.CHM). Although I've spent quite a bit of time making sure everything is set up correctly, when I view the output, the topics do not display in the window (see the image below). I'm sure there must be a setting I'm missing, but I'm at a loss to identify it. Would appreciate any recommendations.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

See @Amebr's reponse here - https://community.adobe.com/t5/robohelp-discussions/robohelp-chm-file-search-on-keywords-stopped-wor...

[Scott24846338ewcn]

I have run the diagnostic tool and generated MJ's help report. Unfortunately I'm not really sure what's meant by the results or what action I need to take. There are several instances of yellow highlighted errors, most of which end in "Reinstall HTML Workshop". Unfortunately I guess I need some hand-holding. Thank you.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

The important part was this bit - 

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...

[Scott24846338ewcn]

This link takes me to a Wayback Machine calendar page...?

[Peter Grainge]

Where you click on one of the dates highlighted. After a while it should go to a download page.

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

[Scott24846338ewcn]

I have selected 5 different dates and the result for all is "404 - File or directory not found."

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Just worked for me when I selected Jan 19 2020 - took a long time, but finally downloaded the htmlhelp.exe program.

[Scott24846338ewcn]

That one did download for me and I installed it. I can use the hhw.exe to launch HTML Help Workshop. Sorry to ask so many questions, but can you tell me where I should go from here?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Did you try generating your RH project again?

[Scott24846338ewcn]

Yes, unfortunately I have the same problem.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Ok, where are you trying to view the resulting CHM? Is the same thing happening with the sample project?

[Scott24846338ewcn]

Not sure if this is exactly what you're asking, but I've also generated a Frameless output that works as expected and looks good. (same project). And just tried the WebHelp output and it comes out fine. For some reason the .CHM just isn't cooperating.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I would have expected Frameless & HTML5 to work - CHMs are antiques. Are you trying to view it locally or on a server? To determine if it's the project or some more CHM-specific malaise, try creating a CHM from the sample project and see if it behaves.

[Scott24846338ewcn]

I'm outputting it to a network location. Can you tell me how to access the sample project you're talking about?

[Jeff_Coatsworth · Accepted solution]

Is this the first time you're using CHMs in this location? Because CHMs on servers need some handholding to relax security on them to make them function (if that's even possible anymore). The sample project should be in your My Documents > My Robohelp Projects folder - if it's not there, then you can take a copy from the "factory install" location in your C:\Program Files\ folder - don't try to launch it from there - MS will usually shut you down due to security rights.

[Scott24846338ewcn]

It looks like when I output the CHM to my local drive, it works. I think that's what I'll have to continue to do as long as we're still using CHMs. At some point in the future I believe we'll be transitioning to something more modern. Thanks so much for your guidance and patience.

[Peter Grainge]

It also needs to be installed on the local drive of the users.

________________________________________________________

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

[Peter Grainge]

It is no longer possible to work around the network restrictions. It's explained on my site. 

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