Updating WebHelp

Report · Jul 15, 2009

I have WebHelp files (v5.10) that were gernerated by RoboHelp an number of years ago. Knowing nothing about RoboHelp or WebHelp how do I go about updating the WebHelp files with additional content. I do not have a copy of RoboHelp.

Report · Jul 15, 2009

Ouch. I'm not sure it's possible. I think it also will depend on if you have source files or output files. Below are the options I could think of.

Without using a help tool:

If you have the output files only, then I suspect you'd need to be an expert in HTML, CSS and Javascript and it would probably be nasty.

If you have source files only, then I don't think it's possible to do without a help tool, as the output files are very different from the source files, with a lot of additional support files for navigation, etc.

With a help tool:

If you get another help application that understands Robohelp source files and has a web-based output, you could import into that and generate their version of webhelp. But in that case, you might as well get Robohelp (assuming the cost is comparable, I suppose.) as that will offer the easiest path.

If you only have output files, I'm not sure of the ease of getting those into a different help application. Even if you get Robohelp, there is a lot of work to be done to get them into shape for use as source files. Peter Grainge's (www.grainge.org) site has a topic about that I believe.

I've never tried any of the above, so I'm just theorising. Maybe someone else has better ideas.

Report · Jul 16, 2009

I downloaded a trial version of RoboHelp and imported some of the files into a new project. I was able to veiw some of the pages and the links were functional, but I was not able to get the TOC working. Also, I do not know what to do with the whdata, whgdata & whxdata directorys and their content. Import them(Could go into the directorys themself to import the files but not sure if that is correct) or copy them into the project from explorer? Any suggestions would be greatly appeciated.

Report · Jul 16, 2009

I downloaded a trial version of RoboHelp and imported some of the files into a new project. I was able to veiw some of the pages and the links were functional, but I was not able to get the TOC working. Also, I do not know what to do with the whdata, whgdata & whxdata directorys and their content. Import them(Could go into the directorys themself to import the files but not sure if that is correct) or copy them into the project from explorer? Any suggestions would be greatly appeciated.

Report · Jul 16, 2009

That sounds like you have got the output files into RH8 as source files. You need to old X5 source projects or you have even more problems to address.

The source project will not have wh files and folders, except within a folder called !SSL!

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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Report · Jul 16, 2009

Ok, getting a clearer picture. I have the output files, but I do not have the old x5 source project. Probably explains why the TOC does not work. Is it possible to rebuild this project with the output files? Will www.grainge.org be able to help me with this?

Report · Jul 16, 2009

Hi there

Fellow Adobe Community Expert Peter Grainge's site will likely point you to my site for this. So I'll save you a step and link directly.

Click here for the info

Cheers... Rick

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Report · Jul 16, 2009

Thanks much for the info.....

Report · Jul 16, 2009

Last question before I dive into recreating new RoboHelp project from the WebHelp output files. Do I import the files from the whdata, whgdata & whxdata directories?

Report · Jul 16, 2009

Hi there

I think Peter answered that for you in the earlier post. Those are ouptput files RoboHelp creates. You don't need (or even want) them among your source.

Cheers... Rick

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