Re: Updating projects in RoboHelp 9.2: how to exchange files?

[Char James-Tanny <CharJT -at- helpstuff -dot- com>]

Hi, Geoff :-)

First, I would create a new folder for the project.

Next, I would make sure that it was *my* RoboHelp template in the Office Templates
folder. (BTW, Microsoft determined that 8 pt Sans Serif was the font of choice for
Help files...but no one seems to know why ;-) ) Since the font changed, it means
that your docs all have the Update Styles check box selected under Tools |
Templates and AddIns (I don't remember the exact name of the check box, but it's
directly underneath the template field.) So, when you open the docs the next time,
they should reflect your customized template.

Then, I would copy *my* last known good copy to this folder.

Finally, I would copy only the changed doc files from the developer's folder to
this folder. For every doc file that you copy, delete the corresponding RTF file.
It will be regenerated when you open the project.

I usually delete all the extra files, especially those with the same document name,
because they get regenerated automatically. These files usually end in *.prs and
*.rbh.

Good luck!

Char
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Char James-Tanny (mailto:CharJT -at- helpstuff -dot- com)
JTF Associates, Inc. (http://www.helpstuff.com)

Consulting and Development for WinHelp, HTML Help, and Web-based Help
Adjunct Faculty, Bentley College
RoboHelp Advisory Board and RoboHelp Certified Instructor




> - Should I simply replace my entire project directory with the updated one
> provided by the developers, and trust that they haven't buggered anything up too
> badly? (Seems reasonable, since they successfully recompiled the help file while
> I was away. On the other hand, not everything looks kosher. For example, they
> replaced my customized RH template file with RH's default template, which is ugly
> and unusable--whose idea was it to select what appears to be a 6-point screen
> font as the default font? Ugh.)
> - Can I simply copy the updated Word file into my help directory, thereby
> replacing the old Word file? (Yes, I plan to keep a backup copy. <g>) I
> suspect that RoboHelp stores certain essential information somewhere outside
> Word; for example, RH Explorer displays a list of standard directories (e.g., for
> graphics) that don't match the physical directories on my hard disk, which leads
> me to suspect it maintains its own invisible files
> somewhere. If I choose this approach, what additional files would I need to copy?
>
> - I could always create a whole new help project and import the most recent
> compiled .HLP file, but I'd rather not do this unless there's no other option;
> among other things, RH or the WinHelp compiler renames all the graphics files
> with helpful [sic] names such as 000001.bmp, and I'd have to re-rename them so
> I'd know which file is which. I also don't want to have to go back into the help
> file and retest all the links to make sure RH did the job right.
>


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