Webhelp cannot run if it is in a zip file

[Juliette Curtis]

This is an elementary mistake but I have been caught by it a few times. I am posting this tip because it might help other RoboUsers.

Webhelp files cannot run if they are inside a zip file. They must be extracted from the zip.

If a user attempts to run a webhelp system that is inside a zip, they might see a blank screen, an error message, or a partial help system that does not work properly. Extracting the files from the zip should fix the problem.

If you distribute a webhelp system in a zip file, for example if you are asking people to review a draft help system, I recommend that you explcitly tell the people to extract the files. If you do not, some may try to start the webhelp without extracting the files and of course it won't work.

BTW I am using RoboHelp 10.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

LOL – funny, but a bit sad ;>)

[FieryPantone]

Is this still the case? one of my project managers is so convinced that (techno-savvy) end users won't be happy having to unzip a set of WebHelp files that there is talk of exhuming .chm …

[Peter Grainge]

It is still the case and I really don't understand your project managers view. A techno-savvy end user should understand files are zipped to simplify sending.

It is a one off process and if you are installing software, then your developers and install it anyway.

Can you not put the help on a web server so that users do not have to install it?

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I ship mine out as a self-extracting exe file by using the same installer software we use to package our software (that’s in one project; the other gets sucked into the developers’ build).