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A
Anonymous
October 9, 2009
Answered

Use of underscores in chm filenames

  • October 9, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 3087 views

Hi Everyone,

I recently came across the following as a result of a web search..

Location

http://alist.adobe.co.uk/devnet/robohelp/articles/merged_help_06.html

Potential problem highlighted with merged projects

"CHM filenames
Avoid the use of underscores, the hash symbol and suchlike in the names of the CHM files you create. They have been found to cause problems with merged Microsoft HTML help. Stick with alphanumeric characters and no spaces."

Has anyone experienced problems related to this and if so what exactly?

I am usually led to believe that underscores in a filename is a fairly safe practice???

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peter Grainge

    Hi, Author Care,

    Space characters in the names of Help files are known to cause problems, at least as far as merged Help collections are concerned. Hash symbols (#) are a definite no-no, too, for the reasons outlined in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=319247

    This is true also of other characters that have special significance in Web authoring, such as the question mark. I don't believe that I've ever had problems with underscores, however. Perhaps this is a RoboHelp-specific issue.

    Pete


    If Pete says underscores should not cause a problem, they should not.

    That said, with both Colum and Craig having experienced this, it looks like it could be a RoboHelp specific issue. It could also be a historic thing, who knows?

    If you have a burning desire to use underscores, I would say go ahead but remember this thread if you do hit problems. If there is no need to use them, then to RoboHelp users I suggest it might be something best avoided.

    Remember the issue is only with merged CHMs too.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    2 replies

    A
    Anonymous
    February 25, 2015

    I had the problem, but it appears to have gone away after I listed all files in the project in the [MERGE FILES] section of all of the help project file (.hhp).  This section should list all chm files except for the one that is generated by a particular project file.

    If this is not sufficient, there is another change that I made at the same time. In the Window definition. I specified the Master.chm file in the window definition in every project file.

    TriPane="Master_Window_Title","Master.chm::\contents.hhc","index.hhk","topicfilename.htm","ms-its:Master.chm::hometopic.htm",,,,,0x63520,,0x84e,[139,71,1026,917],0x30000,,,,,,0

    I also retained a secondary window definition for the unmerged help, although you shouldn't need it if you're just opening in context of the master table of contents and index. Here it is for comparison.

    Tripane2="Slave_Help_Title","contents.hhc","index.hhk","defaultfile.htm","ms-its:Slave.chm::hometopic.htm",,,,,0x63520,,0x84e,[139,71,1026,917],0x30000,,,,,,0 !

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 9, 2009

    And usually it is safe. However, there was a post on these forums where someone was having a problem and the response was that underscores in filenames for merged HTML help is a known problem. I don't work with merged CHMs but the person concerned does so...

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Help others by clicking Correct Answer if the question is answered. Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.
    RoboColum_n_
    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    October 9, 2009

    I'm not sure if I am the person Peter was referring to but let me add my 2p worth ;-)

    I have used merged CHMs for over 10 years and in the past I have had problems with underscores in the file name. The problem I faced was that file names with underscores just did not appear in the merged project output at all. Remove the underscore and it did. That was back in the days of RHX4 so things may have changed but I've never tempted fate!

    Read the RoboColum(n) for a tips,  tricks and musings on the Technical Communication Suite products.

    A
    Community Expert
    AmebrCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 12, 2009

    This was my previous post about the merged help problem by the way....

    Merged HTML help project slave chms reverting to earlier versions umprompted


    I replied previously to your other post and just want to say here that none of our help files have underscores or other characters - letters only. So I don't

    think the problem is linked to underscores in filenames.

    I'll post this in the other discussion also, to keep it all together.

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