Generating hlp files in RoboHelp HTML

[PhylumPhilter]

Is it possible to generate .hlp files from RoboHelp HTML version 9? We're generating help files for an older program that only uses .hlp or .chm files. I've only been able to generate .hlp files from RoboHelp for Word, and I don't really want to use it any more. But I haven't been able to generate .hlp files from RoboHelp HTML.

Thanks.

[Jeff_Coatsworth · Accepted solution]

From what I remember reading around here, .hlp files can only be created in the RH for Word version.

[Peter Grainge]

Jeff is right. You can only produce WinHelp from RoboHelp for Word.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[PhylumPhilter]

That's a bummer. Out of curiosity, any idea why it's not an option in HTML?

Thanks for your help.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Sorry, no idea - I would hazard a guess that it's a really, really, really old format?

[Captiv8r]

Hello PP

I'll be happy to hazard a guess as to why RoboHelp doesn't "do" WinHelp. It has to do with the history of RoboHelp. Way back around 1992 or so, RoboHelp existed largely as a plug-in to Microsoft Word that made it a lot easier to create WinHelp files. Basically it was a set of macros that formatted the arcane coding necessary inside Word documents that made things work for the WinHelp compiler.

HTML emerged later on and the first version of RoboHelp HTML was born. This created an entirely new format and an entirely new application (RoboHelp HTML or RoboHTML) was born. HTML help was the new kid on the block. As such, I'm guessing the developers were sort of watching to see if or how much it would "catch on".

So the application code bases were totally different. And remain so to this day. As Microsoft has taken measures to try and dissuade folks from using WinHelp, I'm sure RoboHelp for Word is likely on life support and probably has been for some time. RoboHelp for Word and RoboHelp HTML work in totally different ways. And given the fact Microsoft wants WinHelp gone, it simply doesn't make any sense to expend effort on making RoboHelp HTML capable of outputting WinHelp.

Cheers... Rick

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[PhylumPhilter]

Thanks, appreciate you taking the time to give the info!