When importing Map IDs from Word, RH converts dashes into underscores

[Rsfl]

Hi,

is there a way to avoid this? We import a Word document into RH that contains map IDs (in the form of TopicAlias footnotes). However, RH converts any dash into an underscore, e.g. "this-is-my-help-id" into "this_is_my_help_id".

I see no reason for this, is there a way to change this? Manually editing the BSSCDefault.h file does not work.

We use RH2019 classic + Word MS 365, output format is Responsive HTML help.

Robert

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Not aware of anything from the RH end, but what happens if you fix the Word doc to use underscores?

[Rsfl]

Currently the application that calls the help uses dashes in the IDs, so I wanted to check whether there is a way to implement the help correspondingly. But yes, if there is no way to do this we will have to change our help IDs to underscores.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I'm slightly confused - are you pushing the map file out to the application to use or are you receiving a map file from the application to be used inside the RH topics? I've not had any issues with mapids because all of mine are single word (no spaces or characters within) codes.

[Rsfl]

I try to be more clear, sorry for the confusion:

1. There is an application that tries to call an HTML help using IDs that contain dashes.

2. I create a Word file and implement those IDs as footnotes.

3. I import the Word file into RH and create a ther HTML help.

Result: During the import, RH changes the dashes into underscores. So the call by the application does not work as currently implemented. Calling using underscores works.

If I manually edit the csh.js file in the HTML help, then the call using dashes works. But of course manually editing each output is not a option.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Ah, pretty complicated workflow you've got there - why not just import the Word content once & then continue to author within RH?

[Rsfl]

Well it is not a one-time process. The word document will continue to be edited and each time a new online help needs to be generated. We use the referencing function of RH that allows you to update your RH project when a linked document has been edited. 

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Ah - so you're not taking the importing route - you're linking. Has this always worked or is this the first time trying it?

[Rsfl]

It does work well, it's just the first time we encounter help IDs that contain dashes. But I think I can close the thread now, the help IDs will be changed to underscores then all is fine. But thanks for the thoughts!

[Rsfl]

I should add that the file csh.js in the help output CAN be manually edited to use dashes and calling the help via URL using dashes works then. So this is technically possible, the problem lies in the handling of help IDs by RH.

[Amebr]

I'm pretty certain map ids for CHM always had to be only upper or lowercase letters, numbers and the underscore character. I feel like they also couldn't start with a number. However, I can no longer find any supporting documentation for these memories as CHM is so old.