Webhelp Deployment

SANMOD

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Mar 21, 2007, 11:32:34 AM3/21/07

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Hi,

I am new to Robohelp-webhelp, I have deployed the webhelp on server and
assinged map IDs to all topics. Now when I call any particular topic it
displays topic without left side navigation panel. Instead it give "SHOW"
button on left top side. I want to show navigation panel from all pages

How to do this?

Peter Grainge

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Mar 21, 2007, 12:28:50 PM3/21/07

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See the topic on my site about calling webhelp.

Linux Rules

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Mar 21, 2007, 2:47:08 PM3/21/07

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Hello SANMOD -

Common oversight...you are calling the desired TOPIC directly but you should
be calling the START PAGE and appending the TOPIC in the call-to-help.

The START PAGE doesn't have any project "content" - it is the page that
defines the layout of your project (the panes).

The called TOPIC is just that: the page the project displays for a called
topic. This page is displayed IN the START PAGE as the topic content.

So, you need to launch the START PAGE file with the TOPIC (map ID) appended,
not just the TOPIC file.

Regards,
GEWB

SANMOD

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Mar 22, 2007, 9:30:44 AM3/22/07

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Hi,

Thanks for your reply...I have tried to call the help files by following your
suggestion but still I am not getting desired output.

I am using following

http://server name/project folder/start page.htm?<id={8}>>java==true

Correct me if I am worng anywhere.

I have used Robohelp word to generate webhelp files. I have assigned Map IDs
to all topics

Thanks in advance

Sandip

Peter Grainge

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Mar 22, 2007, 9:45:54 AM3/22/07

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I think you need to be looking at John Daigle's article for which there is a link on my site.

SANMOD

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Mar 22, 2007, 10:20:32 AM3/22/07

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I have gone through website but I could not found anything related to my query

Peter Grainge

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Mar 22, 2007, 10:31:24 AM3/22/07

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I'm sorry but I cannot help you with calling webhelp from an application using Map IDs. URLs yes but not Map IDs. Anyone?

1-6

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Mar 22, 2007, 10:33:35 AM3/22/07

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What did you name your start page in your Primary Layout? That will be the file you need to open. Exclude the ?<id={8}>>java==true. Hope this helps.

1-6

SANMOD

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Mar 22, 2007, 10:55:58 AM3/22/07

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I am not calling from Application, I have uploaded the help files on server,
now if I have to open certain topic I need to use Map IDs. Server name with
complete path and respective Map ID will become my URL. Still I am getting
problem.

I am using http://server name/project folder/start page.htm?<id={8}>>java==true

but it does not show me navigation pane at left side

SANMOD

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Mar 22, 2007, 10:57:47 AM3/22/07

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Start page is default topic. I am using introduction page as default page. I
need to use ?<id={8}>>java==true because from map ID I directly want to call
respective topic page. here in this example 8 stands for Map ID.

Thanks

Peter Grainge

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Mar 22, 2007, 11:00:42 AM3/22/07

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Map IDs are for use with the CSH API. If you are just calling via the browser,
use a URL startpage.htm#path/target.htm.

I don't think you can use map ids in the way you want but will leave others to
confirm that.

Colum McAndrew

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Mar 30, 2007, 12:25:42 PM3/30/07

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Peter is right I'm afraid. CSH calls are not designed to be used in the manner you suggest.

SANMOD

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Mar 30, 2007, 12:18:11 PM3/30/07

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is there any other options available??

anybody else can help me out please

charlesarnold

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Apr 4, 2007, 5:04:03 PM4/4/07

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Greetings!

I, too, am having trouble with the "show" link and a topic when a WebHelp
system loads,instead of the skin with navigation pane and all.

I have a topic linked to the first book in the TOC. It is a cover page, with a
logo, title and subtitle. I considered this my start page. I chose this from
the "Default Topic" list on the first window of the Publishing Wizard.

In the past, this method has produced WebHelp systems that load correctly,
with the skin, et. al. Recently, however, the topic loads with the "show" link
in the upper left. When you click this link, the skin loads, with the same
topic on display, and all functions are enabled.

Upon further research, I discovered that the "Start Page" and the "Default
Topic" are not the same. Both are .HTM files, but the former is a frameset and
the latter is topic content. But nowhere do I find a field to set the "Start
Page". Any suggestions?

Roboconfused,

Charles Arnold
MetLife DI
Tampa, Florida

SANMOD

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Apr 5, 2007, 3:13:35 AM4/5/07

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I am also in same impression that default topic is start page. How to set start page?

Peter Grainge

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Apr 5, 2007, 3:31:34 AM4/5/07

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The start page is the first field in the first page of the wizard. It is
labelled Select Output Folder and Start Page.

The default topic is further down in a field called, wait for it, Default
Topic. :-)

charlesarnold

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Apr 10, 2007, 5:51:38 PM4/10/07

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I was experiencing a major lapse of sanity over the start page/default topic
issue. The RoboHelp help text is not very clear on this subject. Finally, it
came to me. DUH! I tested this inspiration, and this is my take....

Select Output folder and Start Page: The top field on the first dialog of the
publishing wizard (Layout=>Properties). This should be an existing folder on
your local drive. Robohelp puts the output here when you generate your system.
Add the Start page name to the path. I suggest "index.htm" because it is easy
to find, and you are unlikely to have a topic file with this name. When it
generates your output. RoboHelp creates this file, and builds the frameset,
according to your skin configuration.

Default Topic: Still on the same dialog box, but a few fields lower. This, of
course, must exist in your help system. It is the topic that displays when
users load your help system -- by opening the Start page in their web browser.

I tested this, and discovered that, if you specify an existing topic for your
start page, RoboHelp adds a 1 to the existing, and builds the frameset in the
file you specified.

This is really quite simple, but not very intuitive. If you open any .htm file
besides the start page in your browser, Robohelp displays the topic with the
"Show" link in the upper left. When you click this link, the skin loads, with
the controls, navigation pane, and all.

Hope this simplifies your life. It has removed a big mean monkey frommy back.

Peter Grainge

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Apr 11, 2007, 4:31:25 AM4/11/07

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Charles' description is entirely correct

START PAGE = The three frames, one of which displays the DEFAULT TOPIC. As the
start page and default topic are often in the root folder, RoboHelp has to
ensure that the name is different so it appends "1".

Charles: You say "If you open any .htm file besides the start page in your

browser, Robohelp displays the topic with the "Show" link in the upper left."

That depends on how you call it. Using the startpage.htm#target.htm method, it
will open any file with the full TOC. Sanmod though is trying to open a target
topic using map ids in the browser which cannot be done. Map IDs are for use
from the application.

MergeThis

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Apr 11, 2007, 8:04:11 AM4/11/07

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In addition:

The "Select Output folder and Start Page" field will be populated by RH with
the project name under the default
"!SSL!/WebHelp" folder. For example, if you've created MyProject using the RH
defaults, this would be what RH provides in that field:

C:\Program Files\RoboHelp Office\RoboHTML\MyProject\!SSL!\WebHelp\MyProject.htm

YOU CAN SPECIFY ANY LOCATION OR FILE NAME YOU WISH!
For example, if you created the project elsewhere and chose a different start
page name:

C:\xyz\index.htm

The START PAGE is simply the RH-generated file that provides all the browser
instructions for creating the frameset that displays the top menu, navigation
pane, and content pane.

The DEFAULT TOPIC PAGE is your "opening" or "home" page.

Good luck,
Leon