Find and Replace in HTML crashes RoboHelp HTML

RoboHelp 9 has crashed several times as I've been using Find and Replace in Files.  I am rebranding our user docs and replacing such text as product names using a variable like this:

<?rh-udv_start name="company_product_name_track-it" ?>BMC Track-It!<?rh-udv_end ?>

I'm searching for the product name that does not yet have a variable with Find and Replace in Files, and replacing it with the variable code.

The crash first occurred only when I clicked Replace All.  Then I accidentally clicked it and it crashed again.  Is there a specific problem with using variables with the Find and Replace in Files feature>

Thanks.

Gina

It crashed again, but this time when I tried to generate the Webhelp:

Error:  Unhandled exception at 0xccccffff in RoboHTML.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0xccccffff.

My files are in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 source control, and I haven't had problems like this before I tried to use variables with Find and Replace in Files.

Health warning: I don't use source control.

Could it be the find and replace is trying to work on files you have not checked out?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

No...all the files are checked out (only to me).

Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone

Peter,

I might have to contact support.  I just tried this:

Copied my RoboHelp source files from Windows Explorer to another folder and removed Read Only. 

Tried to generate WebHelp.

Got this error:

Thanks!

Gina

Problem signature:

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: RoboHTML.exe

Application Version: 9.0.2.271

Application Timestamp: 4ede0156

Fault Module Name: StackHash_0a9e

Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0

Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Offset: b640e9cc

OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48

Locale ID: 1033

Additional Information 1: 0a9e

Additional Information 2: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

Additional Information 3: 0a9e

Additional Information 4: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

Read our privacy statement online:

I'm chatting with Support now and will post the outcome.

Thanks.

OK.

If they do not give an immediate answer, try in another project next.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

Peter,

I reported this to Adobe support almost 3 weeks ago with a bronze (email) support contract and there is still no resolution.  I tried this in other projects and it works fine.  I FTPd my project to Adobe 2 weeks ago and they haven't been able to resolve the problem.  (They haven't said whether or not they could reproduce the problem.)

I rolled back the changes I had in source control and now just got the same appcrash error trying to use the Edit > Find and Replace in Files feature.  This is so frustrating because I have to rebrand several RoboHelp projects with hundreds of topics each.  I'm having to go file by file to find and replace text.

I haven't had this problem in the 11 years I've been using RoboHelp.  Very strange.

Thanks.

Gina

So to go back to the beginning

You search for

BMC Track-It!

and replace with

<?rh-udv_start name="company_product_name_track-it" ?>BMC Track-It!<?rh-udv_end ?>

Correct?

I have recently done the same thing and it worked without any problems.

Do you have Rh on a machine away from the office?

• If you do, try it there. I have had people tell me their project was checked out but when it is sent to me, the project is still looking for the source control.
• If you do not, can you share the project with me? Please do not send just yet. Post back first.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

Peter,

I'm not trying to replace the text with a variable now.  I am just searching for Track-It! and replacing it with BMC Track-It!.  I have tried it on a different computer where I had checked in all the files, then copied the project to an external hard drive and opened it, with the same problems.  This is project specific -- it's not happening with my other projects. I can't share the project unfortunately.  I really appreciate your help though.

Gina

So there's something messed up in just this project - what about doing a FAR outside of RH as a quicker workaround?

Jeff,

I haven't used FAR.  Any tips before I search for it and try to use it?

Thanks.

Gina

Sorry, I just meant an external Find and Replace (FAR) program; not any specific one. There's a whole bunch out there. Just make sure that you've got a copy of your project zipped up as a backup - FAR programs can make things go sideways real fast.

Gina

In the other projects, is the search for the same string?

Regardless, I agree with Jeff that using some other tool may solve your problem provided you can back out if things go wrong. Presumably you would just discard what you have checked out and start over as you have source control.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

Adobe support got back to me.  There was something wrong with one or more of the variables.  They were able to reproduce the problem.  We don't know, though, which of the variables was causing the crash and why.  I deleted the variables and selected the option to convert the variables to text. Now the Find and Replace in Files works. I only tested Replace, not Replace All in File or Replace All in the Find and Replace in Files dialog.  But this will work for me.