Hi All, (running RH X5.0.2 on Windows XP SP2)
I transferred & inherited an 'unstructured RH HELP s/ware
documentation system (*.chm output) and I'm trying to determine
upfront the best way to organize, share and manage the projects for
chm help, documentation & translation/localization.
I'm a Newbie to RH X5 but not tech. authoring etc, but
gaining experience fast, such as editing/updating existing (legacy)
projects - building them out as .chm projects - though I intend to
advance to shared outputs i.e. printed docs etc in good time. But
How?
My output (.chm's)62 chms and 54 in the other with approx.
2800 - 3500 topics - has various requirements, but the main being
its shared between 2 major branded products i.e. 'Product 1' and
'Product 2' - Product 1 being the flagship and the forerunner..
this causes soo much hassle as the S/ware products are sold or
INSTALLED in so many differing variations/permations.. so you have
to be very aware of what’s what and goes with what variation
of install - time will improve this..!!
I've found Conditional Build tags useful at this stage to
define each products content - for inclusion/exclusion!
Where as the predecessor preferred to do it the long/hard way
and recopy the Topic(*.htm) file and segregate it in another folder
(unfortunately, usually leaving the same filename and then edit the
Product 1 data for Product 2's requirements.. (Conditional text has
helped this..). ever heard of SIngle Source authoring ..?
However, there are a magnitude of repeated, duplicated topics
through out the total help system, becos of the above and I wish to
bring law & order to this non share friendly file structure -
ex BroadVision user speaking - and have the following question..
1. Do the source files, (*.htm) files, have to be
stored/located in same folder as the RH project (*.xpj).
Could you place the source files in a separate location,
away from the .xpj.. i.e. on a drive labeled F:\\Source Files
(HTML)\HOUSE projects... Then have on the local drive i.e. D:\, the
individual projects (*.xpj's) in separate folders, such as GREEN
HOUSE, RED HOUSE, WHITE HOUSE projects which are all linked to 1
copy of Source files (HTML )?
I hope the output from each separate project will build out
with the same .chm filename but contain the according Green or
White house data?
This would allow just 1 lot of source files with differing
types of HOUSE text/data - but conditioned appropriately could
provide multiple deliveries separately & version control?
Please say yes - although it’s not necessary for it to
work across separate drives/networks but it will be desired in the
future...
2. The second and quicker way I assume, would be to use
multiple project files in the same complete RH project and design
the projects files accordingly - prod1_RED HOUSE.xpj and prod2_RED
HOUSE.xpj then treat the xpj’s as separate projects and
include/exclude topics as you want...
3. The first is friendlier when collecting all *.htms from 1
drive and posting for translation I think – instead of having
to mine the HTM’s out of each folder? Agree
4. Also can anyone advise on the amount of work (damage) I
will have to do depending on which way I decide to structure the
source files/projects - as the existing projects (64+) are all in
self contained individual folders .... would prefer not to be left
with more work.. than what I'm actually achieving!! (Ref. to
Deleting and then re-importing all the topics in as file reference
have dropped…. like F/Maker?
I welcome all ideas or any suggestions please Help.
Hope to hear from people soon
Sim
BTW - Wished my company had bought Vers. RH X6 - seen the Toc
Books can now be Conditioned – v nice….