Cannot create compiled file error

[Authorgirl]

I compiled a chm and attempted to open it without realising I already had a previous version open. It gave an error and so I closed the original and tried again. But now I just get 'Cannot create compiled file. It may be open in another window' whenever I try to open it.

I have tried recreating the SSL, recompiling the chm and restarting my PC.

The file is definitely not still open.

Can anyone help? I am using RH7 on Vista.

[Peter Grainge]

Can you create CHMs from other projects?

You will find samples at

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe RoboHelp 8\RoboHTML\Samples\en_US

or

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Technical Communication Suite 2\Adobe RoboHelp 8\RoboHTML\Samples\en_US

Can you create other forms of help such as webhelp from this project?

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Authorgirl]

Yes I can even create other chms from the same project. Just not that particular configuration of SSL settings.

I've deduced that it's the TOC that is causing problems, if I use a different one, it works fine.

The only change I had made to the problem TOC was to apply a conditional build tag to a topic. I've tried removing it but it makes no difference.

I notice 'Fatal Error: Unexpected error from Microsoft HTML compiler.' at end of compilation messages in output view.

I had a similar problem once before that you worked out was down to me having deleted a cond build tag whilst it was still being used in the project. But I definitely haven't done that here.

[Peter Grainge]

Have you tried the same SSL but without the build expression being applied or with changes to the build expression?

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@petergrainge

[Authorgirl]

Interesting! It worked fine when I removed the build expression.

I then added the tags back into the expression one by one and it worked all the way until I applied the last one. Then same problem - cannot open file, another version may be open. The last tag to be applied is not one I have applied or changed in any way for months.

I removed the whole expression again and it works.

So it must be to do with the tags then?

[Authorgirl]

I have 11 tags and I only need 2 of them for this output. I have tried different combinations and it seems it works OK until I keep just the 2 that I need.

It's even OK if I substitute either of these for a different one.

They just don't work together. I have applied one of these tags to content today but not the other. And I have also applied another tag that isn't causing a problem.

[Peter Grainge]

How many topics are these two tags applied to?

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@petergrainge

[Authorgirl]

One is applied to 86 topics and the other to 59 plus 3 TOC pages.

[Peter Grainge]

Using a copy of the project...

1] Try renaming the tags and changing the expression.

2] Try removing it from the TOC items.

3] Try trashing the CPD and PSS files and reopening the project.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge