Batch compile spotty in RH 2020v3

[AdvancedHelp]

Hi,

I've just finished converting a large project that has 43 separate projects in it.

This is output into three regions of the UK, so that's 129 times it has to compile.

So I've create a batch file, as I did with RH Classic. 

Only, it works sometimes, and not others. I think I've had it twice run through the first region, and never through the second and third all the way through. It might work after a reboot-- or not. It fails at different points. Some were explained by mistakes I made in the batch file, some not.

I've split it into three batches, it will still not work reliably. Most of the time it just hangs...suggesting that RH has crashed in the background.  This morning, for example, on a freshly started laptop, it got four projects in before coming to a halt mid-topic.

They will compile from the project, though I'm going to tediously run through them again to see if there are any issues, but as it will go right through occasionally, I'm guessing it's just RH crashing. I'm not running RH while running the batch, either.

Basically, it isn't working. 

This is a sample of my batch from one region:

@echo off

cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe RoboHelp 2020"

RoboHelp.exe --cl "C:\1TechAuthoring\ALB\300\Help_3.3.0\Master\ALB_Master.rhpj" -o Responsive -p "C:\1TechAuthoring\ALB\300\Output\Help\EWNI"

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Nicola

[Peter Grainge]

You don't need a batch file. Configure all your presets so that they generate correctly. After that look in the top right corner when you are in Outputs mode and click Quick Generate. Select the top check box to select all the presets and click Generate.

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[AdvancedHelp]

That won't work. There are 43 separate RH projects, not presets. They are all one large Responsive system.

So I would still have to go into 43 separate projects to compile the help. Unless it does it over separate projects? That's a feature I could get behind!

And I'd have to create presets for them all, which is ok, (currently most share) but what about when a version number changes? Then I'd have to go through all 129 to change it. 

If they are removing the batch capability, then that's fine. But they don't appear to be, and it should work.

Thanks for the suggestion,

Nicola 

[Peter Grainge]

Ah! You mean Command Line Generation rather than Batch Generation. I'll see what I can find out.

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[AdvancedHelp]

Yes, I use a batch file to generate the help.

Thanks, I hope they can work this one out.

Nicola

[Peter Grainge]

It has been suggested that you add a delay of say 20 seconds between each output.

If that doesn't help, then try Support. See https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/enterprise-support.other.html#robohelp for your support contact options.

________________________________________________________
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[AdvancedHelp]

Hi,

I tried adding TIMEOUT /T 30 between each compilation...and it after about 3/4.

I then tried TIMEOUT /T 100, and it worked! Once. When I tried again, it failed about 1/3 of the way through.

I thought perhaps I should reboot after each try, so I waited until this morning, and it failed after only three projects.

I might try a longer timeout and see what happens, but I'm not hopeful. I'll also log a case, thanks.

Nicola

[Peter Grainge]

I have learned there is a bug logged for this. I don't have more than that.

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[AdvancedHelp]

That would be me 🙂

Thanks Peter, I've increased the time to 200 seconds between each compilation, and cut down the amount of projects I compile in each batch file, and it sort of works. I'm going to try a 500 rest half-way through to see if it gives it more time to work, but as it now takes all day to just do 1/3 of the projects due to all the waiting, it'll have to be tomorrow now!

Nicola

[Vivek Kumar]

Hi Nicola,

This bug was there and has been resolved in update 4 of 2020 release. We are still little more than a month away from the release. If you are part of prerelease program then you can try the latest beta build there.

Thanks,

Vivek

[AdvancedHelp]

Fantastic! I'll look forward to that then!

Thanks,

Nicola

[Peter Grainge]

Nope already logged internally. 

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[AdvancedHelp]

Update: on another thread, https://community.adobe.com/t5/robohelp/robohelp-2020-command-line-compiling-gets-jammed-randomly-al...  there is a partial solution being offered. Basically you create a batch file that shuts down RH between compilations.

However, in my situation, with 41+ projects, it's still failing at about the 3/4 point. So, roughly 30/41 (it varies). 

It also means you cannot do anything with RH while it is running.

Hopefully release 4 will help.

Nicola

[MayankGupta]

Hi Nicola,

Can you share with me the exact batch files so that I can have a better look at what's happening? 

Regards,

Mayank Gupta

[Peter Grainge]

@AdvancedHelp Send the file to me and I will relay it on.

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[AdvancedHelp]

Hi,

Update 4 for 2020 has solved the issue with the command line compilations. 

I did two test runs yesterday (twice because one project failed to compile-- my error), and it produced all 120+ projects without failing.

Thank goodness, there's a new release coming out soon and I didn't want to spend a week compiling them!

Nicola

[Peter Grainge]

Glad the show is on the road.

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[Matthijs Kool]

Apologies for bumping an old issue, but this one exactly describes the issue we're having.

This issue was indeed fixed in RH2020 update 4, as mentioned by Vivek Kumar. However, there appears to have been a regression in a later update. The problem occurs in both RH2020 update 8 and the most recent release of RH2022 (2022.0.346). I didn't test the intermediate versions between updates 4 and 8. Reinstalling RH2020 update 4 solves the problem.

Unfortunately the problem is hard to reproduce, as the command line compiler appears to hang at random moments.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I'd contact the RH folks - see https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/enterprise-support.other.html#robohelp for your Adobe Support options. I'd recommend using the tcssup@adobe.com e-mail address as it reaches a team dedicated to Technical Communication Suite products including RoboHelp.
Then they can see if it needs logging as a bug in the Tracker (https://tracker.adobe.com/).

[kum69379703]

This is a memory leak issue. As a workaround, you can create a multiple batch file of not more than 2 to 3 output preset generations with command exit statements. This way memory will keep releasing and this issue will not occur.

[Matthijs Kool]

Support was able to reproduce the problem, and they said they will look into it. The workaround mentioned above does not work for me, unfortunately.

For reference: the last version where the command line generator works as expected is RH2020 update 5.

[amitk46854019]

This is a memory leak issue. As a workaround, you can create a multiple batch file of not more than 2 to 3 output preset generations with command exit statements. This way memory will keep releasing and this issue will not occur.

[Peter Grainge]

@Matthijs Kool I understand Support are in touch with you. When resolved please confirm how.

________________________________________________________

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

[Matthijs Kool]

With the help of Support I was able to resolve the problem. They acknowledged it is a bug and it will be fixed in an upcoming release. I'm not sure I can share the workaround they provided, so they will have to do that themselves.

[Peter Grainge]

I understand from Adobe that this issue was fixed some time back but then it reoccurred for some users. A further fix is being tested.

Hopefully that will be built into an update soon. Meantime anyone else should contact Adobe Support. See https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/enterprise-support.other.html#robohelp for your Adobe Support options. The email link tcssup@adobe.com is recommended as it reaches a team dedicated to Technical Communication Suite products including RoboHelp. 

________________________________________________________

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