I have to update an old project that uses WinHelp, so I installed RH X5 on an old XP machine. The original help file always opened in a 2-pane window with the ToC on the left and the default topic on the right. My "updated" help file only opens the ToC/Index/Search screen in a single pane. How do I get the 2-pane window to appear?
This is what I'm looking for
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Have you got the .CNT and HLP files installed in the same directory? If so, can you tell us more about how the help is being called?
They are in the same directory. As for calling, at this point, I'm just opening the hlp file directly. There are MAP IDs but I haven't gotten to that point yet. I'm just the tech writer so some of this is over my head. Hopefully, that answers what you were asking.
I have edited the topic title. The idea is to spell out the problem in the body.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
This is more of a hunch as it has been a long while since I used WinHelp. In the first part of your SSL properties, have you selected a file in your Source Documents. Is it also safe to assume that you haven't excluded any content with a conditional build expression.
One other thing to try is to compile the old source version. Does this give the same problem?
Yes, there's a default topic selected in the SSL (WinHelp 4 is the primary layout).
And I believe compiling the old version would give the same result. All I did to create the new version is save the old project under a new directory, it would be the same, since RH was re-installed, etc., I don't believe there would be any carryover.
I do have a few Startup Macros listed with this project, which was created years ago by an outside contractor (I think) who is long gone. The RH help file describes macros as activating when the Help system first appears ... displays and functions. Could one of those not be functioning, and not causing the initial appearance I'm looking for? Or are they default macros that came with the installation?
You say you "beleive" which suggests that you didn't test it was the same. I'd suggest you try that first. If you have done this and the problem still persists, if could well be of the macros. Especially if there are non-standard ones that are not one of the standard RH ones. I'd try removing these one by one to find the culprit.
Even as I typed that, I knew that was the answer. I did try it today and it makes no difference. Same result.
So just to touch all the bases we have opened the old project and compiled, and removed the startup macros. The reult is still the same. Right?
Time to try creating a new WinHelp project importing the word file.
