Print from Flash Output

[Launcher1]

Using Word input, Robohelp 6

We are in the process of buying the software - and unfurtulately my demo version ran out.

For online output, I prefer to use Flash, but RH 5X would only allow you to print the current topic page. In order for the reader to print a topic PLUS subtopics, you would need to create chm output.

Does this limitation still apply with v 6?

[Captiv8r]

Hi Launcher1

When you say you "prefer to use Flash" as your output, are we to assume you are referring to FlashHelp? If so, hopefully you realize that you won't end up with a single .SWF containing the entire help system. Instead, you get what you get with WebHelp. The main difference is that the navigational components are Flash based.

The printing issue you mention isn't so much a limitation of RoboHelp as it is the medium in which you are delivering.

Cheers... Rick

[Captiv8r]

Sorry, forgot to say that indeed, the same applies to RoboHelp 6. Nothing changes there.

[Launcher1]

Rick,
I did indeed mean FlashHelp. So your response means that I would either have to output in FlashHelp, plus a printable format such as pdf or word. Or, I could create chm files. But this option begs the question: Can you search across a set of chm files as you can across FlashHelp topics/projects?

[Captiv8r]

Hi again

Can you search across a set of chm files as you can across FlashHelp topics/projects?

Ummm, I think you may be a bit confused about FlashHelp. You can't currently merge FlashHelp output and search across multiple projects. Not in the basic FlashHelp output. Now if you are using RoboHelp 6 and creating FlashHelp Pro output and publishing that to the RoboHelp Server (an additional component at an additional charge) it's possible, but not with the base output.

Printing from .CHM also is fraught with issues. This stems from the fact that when you do it, a large concatenated temporary file is created. During that process, the links to your style sheets become munged and are unable to be found, resulting in less than satisfactory print.

Because of this, I'd suggest following the PDF route. After all, that's the selling point of PDF. It faithfully reproduces in print what you intended. Then provide a link to the PDF for those that choose to create printed output.

Cheers... Rick

[Launcher1]

Hi Rick,
Sorry I should have mentioned that we would be creating Flash Pro, for its search capabilities.

Thanks to your answer I now see why my last company produced FlashHelp plus PDFs. That will probably have to be our solution. I could see creating chm files of certain documents (install for e.g.) for our people in the field, so they can put them on their laptops.
thx for yr help.