Index in Robohelp's Help not searching

[TomWhelan]

I'm running RH6 on XP and when I'm in the help for Robohelp, in the index feature, the index does not search as I type. Has anyone seen this happen ?

Thanks Much!

[Phil_Wells]

I'm assuming you are searching the compiled index.

Are all of your entries at the parent level - i.e to the left of the index?

If you have parent/child realtionships in the index, note RH only searches entries at parent level.

(Fell into this trap myself).

[Peter Grainge]

Tom is talking about the help for RoboHelp, not one of his projects.

It seems to be broken.

[Phil_Wells]

Opps...

RTFM.

:o)

[KC_in_Colorado]

I just ran into this too (just started using RH6 after a long period). How annoying! I submitted a support request. Expecting a help authoring tool to include a WORKING help file is a valid expectation in my opinion...

-kc

[Captiv8r]

Hi KC

Have you tried enabling the off-line help? (Tools > Options > General tab)

Cheers... Rick

[KC_in_Colorado]

Yes. That's what I was using to begin with. I tried the online Help to see if it worked but it doesn't.

kc

[Captiv8r]

Hi again

Hmmm, I vaguely recall that you might be able to find a .CHM file tucked inside among your installation files. You might crack Windows Explorer open and see if you find a .CHM there. If so, open it up and see if you have better results.

Cheers... Rick

[KC_in_Colorado]

Thanks for the quick replies, Rick! I did indeed find a chm version of the RoboHelp HTML V6 Help at:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\RoboHelp 6.0\RoboHTML\Robohtml.chm

And the index in that version works properly, so I created a shortcut to it on my desktop.

It appears that RoboHelp HTML launches a FlashHelp version (?) of their Help rather than the .chm, even when you have selected "Use offline help." The chm is not used from within the application. Because the FlashHelp files are on my disk, wouldn't they get updated if, say, Adobe was to fix that V6.0 Help file on their server and I accessed it online first, and then offline? Or is that just wishful thinking? ;*)


kc

[Captiv8r]

Hi again

Glad you were able to find it. Unfortunately I don't believe they have any sort of updating functionality for synchronizing the help.

Cheers... Rick

[KC_in_Colorado]

Just FYI, the response from Adobe support was that the 6.0 Help file has not been updated and to please upgrade to 7.0, where this problem has been fixed. (Won't get into my thoughts on the perception that a broken help file in a help authoring tool creates...! ;*)

[Captiv8r]

Hi KC

For me, the perception would be equivalent to what I'd be thinking if I purchased a table saw and noticed that any chairs that the company made to illustrate how to use the saw weren't quite perfect. Now let Norm Abrams have a go at it and WOW!

The bottom line is that RoboHelp is just a tool. The fact their help system isn't awesome doesn't mean the tool is bad or defective, only that they aren't all that familiar with how to create helpful help.

Cheers... Rick

[Moonlion2]

quote:

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Originally posted by: Captiv8rThe fact their help system isn't awesome doesn't mean the tool is bad or defective, only that they aren't all that familiar with how to create helpful help.

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That is technically correct... 😉