Creating a link to a relative path

[tojo71]

I am hoping someone can help me here.

I'm using Robohelp 6.0 and outputting to a CHM file (Robohtml). I have a separate .htm file with 3 associated files (.flv (flash video), .js, .swf (controller), and .xml (settings) file). This is our training library in video format which is embedded in the .htm file. It was made using Camtasia. What I would like to do is either one of the following:

1. Create a relative link from the .chm file to the .htm file which is outside the project.

2. Include everything in the baggage files and run it from inside the .chm file.

My results were as follows:

1. No matter what I try, I cannot seem to access the .htm file from the Robohelp output using a relative link. I ensured that all the files were in a single directory where the chm file is located, so I know the paths are correct. It's as if Robohelp can only create links for absolute paths? Is this really the case? Also, I don't need the files to be included in the project. I just need to access that .htm file relatively. All the coding is in the .htm file to read the movies.

2. Placing everything into the baggage files does allow me to run the htm file, but the .flv and .swf files don't display in the html window. no matter how I slice it, I can't get these video files to load. As a side note, I can embed .swf files into Robohelp without a hitch, but this training library has multiple videos and a table of contents and such and is 250 MB as an .swf file. But as an .flv file, it is only 25 MB. So obviously, I would prefer to use the .flv file.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

[Pete_Lees · Accepted solution]

Hi, Rob,

> Create a relative link from the .chm file to the .htm file which is outside the project.

Microsoft's HTML Help documentation includes a script for exactly this purpose. See:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms644690(VS.85).aspx

And see also:

http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#externalfile

Pete

[tojo71]

Thanks for the info. It was a good read. Actually, I realized after reading through your posts and about 2 hours of trial and error that the functionality is already built into Robohelp 6. Insert Navigation Control (a toolbar button) > HTML Help Controls > Shortcut. Now I'm ready to cry because I wasted a whole day on this nonsense. Seriously. If adobe would have just added "related links" in their Robohelp Help file, I wouldn't have had to go through any of this. But to name it "Shortcut" is completely useless. It's not a shortcut, it's a LINK!

Anyhow. So much for the people that write help on help. Kind of ironic.

But thanks for your help. I do appreciate the reply.

Rob

[Captiv8r]

Hi Rob

There is a bit of a bug with the HTML Help viewer, in that sometimes a CHM doesn't sense the folder it's actually in. This normally manifests when you open the CHM file from an application. So the code solution is there if you run into that.

But sure, if all your end user is doing to open the help is launching a shortcut or double-clicking the CHM to open it up, the shortcut control is the simplest approach.

Cheers... Rick

Helpful and Handy Links RoboHelp Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form Begin learning RoboHelp HTML 7 or 8 within the day - $24.95! Adobe Certified RoboHelp HTML Training SorcerStone Blog RoboHelp eBooks

[tojo71]

Rick,

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it. In my case, though, I'm

opening an external video file (actually an html file which has the

video embedded) from the help (chm) file. Not the other way around. So

the shortcut idea worked perfectly. I can usually do most things in

Robohelp quite easily, but this one had me baffled.

Thanks again!.

Robert Anselmi

My Music: http://www.phisequence.com

My Music Blog: http://blog.phisequence.com

My Graphics: http://www.chainstyle.com

My Life: http://www.robertanselmi.com

Quoting Captiv8r <forums@adobe.com>:

Hi Rob

There is a bit of a bug with the HTML Help viewer, in that sometimes a CHM

doesn't sense the folder it's actually in. This normally manifests

when you open

the CHM file from an application. So the code solution is there if

you run into

that.

But sure, if all your end user is doing to open the help is launching

a shortcut

or double-clicking the CHM to open it up, the shortcut control is the

simplest

approach.

Cheers... Rick

| http://www.robowizard.com/pc.gif | Helpful and Handy Links

http://www.Adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform&product=38

http://www.gooberguides.com/ProductPages/RoboHelp/RoboHelp82Day.htm

http://www.ShowMeSolutions.biz

http://sorcererstone.wordpress.com/

http://www.gooberguides.com |

>

[Jared Hess]

So, I'm trying to use the script provided by Microsoft in the link given above to open an external PDF. We're trying to link to a .pdf file that's going to be installed with our software but is going to be one directory above and then down into a "en" directory relative to the chm location. So the relative link I'm using is:

<p style="color: #0000ff; cursor: hand; text-decoration: underline; "><a

     onclick="parser('../en/test_pdf.pdf')" style="color: #0000ff; cursor: hand;

     text-decoration: underline; ">Link to a test pdf file</a></p>

<p>

Now the script does work in the sense that it finds the pdf and attempts to open it inside of the help viewer. But clicking on the link actually ends up corrupting the pdf file, which is kind of scary. I get a message from Adobe Reader that says, "The file is damaged and could not be repaired." I've verified that the pdf file is healthy before clicking on the link from the chm and that afterward it's permanently corrupted.

The same link to a simple text file in that same directory works fine with the script, but for some reason a link to a pdf doesn't work. Has anyone else seen this, or does anyone have an idea on how to do a relative link from a chm to a  .pdf file outside of the project in a different directory?

(I'm using the latest RH 9)

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Hi,

What does the parser function do? I would expect it just to fire up Acrobat (open the file).

Greet,

Willam

[Jared Hess]

Hi Willam. This explains it better than I can:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms644690%28VS.85%29.aspx

[Willam_van_Weelden]

Well, I’m at a loss. It seems that the HTML Help component in windows wrecks the file. Perhaps someone with more CHM experience can help out.

Greet,

Willam

[Prateek_T1]

Hi JaredHess,

Greetings!!

Sorry for intruding into your comments, but I had to.

The script you have used, is the same script I need to use.

I am using RH10, can you tell me in which .extension file you have written the script? - Because, I have to create a variable, to which a server adress needs to be assigned.

What is the base file for RoboHelp to do scripting work?

Thanks in advance.

[Jared Hess]

Prateek,
The script isn't mine really. You can get the info from here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms644690%28VS.85%29.aspx

It's just a javascript, file, so I used the .js extension and called from the .htm topic file.

[Prateek_T1]

Hi JaredHess,

Greetings!!

Thanks for the swift reply.

Javascript file - Did you add a new .js file or have you written the code in the eHlpDhtm.js file?

Can you also(if possible) let me know how to call it from .htm file?

I really don't know how to code.

Regards.