How can I import .pdf forms into RoboHelp 11.0.3.268 without garbling fields?

[Davidmpol]

When I try to import .pdf forms into RoboHelp 11, the fields get garbled.

Is there any way around this?

[Captiv8r · Accepted solution]

Hi there

I would love to know what the purpose is of importing the PDF? Normally one only does this if they wish to make the PDF content editable. And that's typically the rare case. Most of the time all you want is to present the PDF. And in that case, it's much easier to just add it as a Baggage File and link to it where you need it.

Cheers... Rick

[Davidmpol]

Thanks for your quick answer.

I thought I needed to import the file because it is located on a web site, and our user's don't necessarily have Internet access.

Please explain how to present it as a baggage file.

--Ephraim

[Captiv8r]

Hello again

Okay, you first open or give focus to the Project Manager pod. Once there, you will either be in Global View (where you see all files combined - CSS, Images, HTM and others) or you will be in Classic view. Classic View has separate folders, One for HTML files, another for CSS, another for Baggage, etc. See image below for reference.

If you are in Global view, just right-click somewhere inside the Project Files and choose New > Baggage File. If you are in Classic view, right-click the Baggage Files folder and choose New > Baggage File.

Then you navigate to where the Baggage File exists and you add it to the project. When you generate, the Baggage File should be automatically copied to the output folder with the other files.

To link to the Baggage File, you generally select the text or image the user will click to display the file, then click and drag the file from the Project Manager pod to the selected image or text.

Or, if you wish to leave the PDF where it is on the web, just determine the URL that would open it. Create a hyperlink from an image or text that will open the file.

Cheers... Rick

[Davidmpol]

Thank you very much.

[Davidmpol]

Is there any way to set up the links to the baggage files in such a way as to vector directly to them from the table of contents, without having to first click on the TOC entry, then click on the link to view the baggage file.

I'd like to create a TOC entry that opens the baggage file without any more clicks.

Thank you.

[Captiv8r]

Yep, you can do that.

Working totally from memory here as RH isn't open at the moment.

Create a new TOC page or right-click the TOC page and edit the properties.

At the bottom left of the properties, you have a button or drop-down that you are able to click to choose what you are linking to. Click that button or drop-down and choose Baggage file. Once you do that, the area to the right of the button or drop-down changes to list your Baggage files. You then scroll through the list and select the Baggage file you want to be opened when the TOC page has been clicked by the user.

Hope that's pretty accurate.

Cheers... Rick

[Davidmpol]

Great.  You were accurate.

Thanks again.