File Formats - HHK and HHC?

[Quiet_in_the_Corner]

Hi,

If possible can anybody verify that HHK and HHC files are index and TOC files found in Microsoft Help (.chm) projects?

I've sent a webhelp project to a translation firm for localization and they are requesting the HHK and HHC files. Am I right in thinking that such files do not exist in a webhelp project, only in a Microsoft Help project?

Sorry if this is a daft question, file formats are not my thing

Thanks,

Alex

[RoboColum_n_]

Hi Alex.

The HHC and HHK files are indeed the TOC and Index files respectively but your thinking is not quite right. A CHM file is a single compiled file that includes the TOC and Index. It is delivered standalone and is therefore perfect for installing locally with an application. With WebHelp output, you get lots of different output files. The TOC and Index are just two of those. This begs the question what you have provided to the translation agency so far as they may need other files. Just to check something, they should be given the entire contents of the output directory where the WebHelp is placed.

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The RoboColum(n)

@robocolumn

Colum McAndrew

[Quiet_in_the_Corner]

Hi Collum,

Thanks for the swift reply. To answer your question, the translation firm requested the project source - which struck as odd at the time because I figured we could just send them the output . . .

Alex

[RoboColum_n_]

I'm no expert in localisation Alex but I guess it's OK to send them the source so long as you don't have to make any more updates to it.

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The RoboColum(n)

@robocolumn

Colum McAndrew

[Quiet_in_the_Corner]

Should I be able to see these HHK and HHC files in either my source or output folders? I don't see them; I have lots of JS files and lots of HTML, but no HHK or HHC. Surely everything they need is contained in the files we sent?

[RoboColum_n_]

Yes you should be able to see them in both the source and the output folders. They take their name from the project name (e.g. projectname.hhc and projectname.hhk). If you can't see these files it maybe because the project has been renamed. In this instance the HHC and HHK files maintain their original name. Can you see any HHC or HHK files in your source directory?

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The RoboColum(n)

@robocolumn

Colum McAndrew

[Quiet_in_the_Corner]

Hi Colum,

I can't see any HHK or HHC extensions in either the source or output folders. I've run a search on the folders using '*.hhk' and '*.hhc' and got 0 return. Would they be in the top level or sub directories?

If these files were missing then surely the project/output wouldn't work . . . would it?

Confused.

[Quiet_in_the_Corner]

I've found HHK . . and HHP. But no HHC as yet.

[RoboColum_n_]

Both files should be in the root directory of your project. If your output has a TOC there must have been a HHC file in the source. If it isn't there now then it may have been moved or deleted. If so, I hope there is a source backup you can fall back on. failing that, you'd have to recreate the HHC file inside RoboHelp by recreating the TOC.

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The RoboColum(n)

@robocolumn

Colum McAndrew

[MergeThis]

FILENAME ALERT!

The source files shown here:

do not appear in the output. The data for the Index and TOC output is spread around within the JS and HTM files in the wh*data folders.

Good luck,

Leon

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

In addition to the other good advice you have already received...

It's common for Micro$oft Window$ to hide specific file types from you in a somewhat misguided effort to "protect" you. This is typically enabled until you specifically disable it.

If you are using XP, open Windows Explorer and click Tools > Folder options.

If you are using Windows 7 (not sure if Vista is the same) you open Windows Explorer and click Organize > Folder and Search options.

Now you should see Folder Options dialog. Click the View tab and you should see a scrolling window with all manner of options.

I could be wrong, but my thought is that perhaps Windows is obscuring these files from you.

Cheers... Rick

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