Seeing "File has been changed outside of RoboHelp... discard changes?"

[ttrujillo]

I'm using: RoboHelp HTML, Version 10.0.1.292

I'm seeing the following message when I make changes within the RoboHelp project and then choose to close my project without saving the changes. It's not consistent behavior - it happens for some help files in the project but not all help files. If I save changes then it doesn't appear.

My steps:

1 - Open RoboHelp (I'm using RoboHelp 10) and make a simple text change to a help topic.

2 - Choose File > Close Project.

3 - Click No when the "Save changes to the following files?" confirmation appears.

This is when I see the message above. The message is confusing for several reasons: 1) I didn't edit the file outside the project, 2) I'm not sure what changes are being discarded if I click Yes, and 3) what's being loaded when I am closing the project.

Full disclosure - The only file I ever edit outside the project is the CSS and I am guilty of editing the CSS with the project open (to instantly see the results of my changes). Could this be the cause even though I haven't touched the CSS in well over a year? Is there old crud stuck in memory for certain help topics? I've never seen this message before and I've worked on this help project for many years.

Further testing - This message is popping up for a help topic added recently so I can't think it's related to any CSS changes made before the file was added. No other files have been edited outside the project that I can think of.

Message was edited by: Tricia Trujillo

[Peter Grainge · Accepted solution]

Maybe with a copy of the project, try deleting the CPD file and then seeing if the offending topic still shows in Project Manager.

Go with Jeff's answer first though.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I had an answer for this one? You been reading my mind Peter? I was thinking – “Just ignore it if you hadn’t made any changes”

[Peter Grainge]

I must have been looking at another thread where you posted about shortening the path, which could also apply here.

Poster has made changes.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

Just an FYI on this. I see this a fair amount. If memory serves, it can happen if you have one or more topics open in the editor, then you perform some action such as a find and replace across files or maybe selecting all the topics in the Topic list pod and assigning a different CSS. Basically, any action that RoboHelp might perform across a multitude of files.

That's why I often admonish class participants that it's generally a good idea to close all topics open in the editor before attempting these changes. As you seem to be acknowledging here, it's a very confusing message!

Cheers... Rick

[ttrujillo]

Deleting the CPD file seems to have solved the problem. I'm not seeing this pesky message anymore. Thank you all for the comments!

- Tricia

[ttrujillo]

I'm curious - I see the option "Clear project cache (.cpd file) before opening any project" in the General settings in RH. It's off by default but perhaps I should turn this on? Are there any concerns with having this enabled? Thanks again!

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

It can add a bit of time to the launch of a project if there are a lot of topics; other than that – no.

[Peter Grainge]

It has never given me a problem.

[ttrujillo]

Cool, thanks again. I'll give it a shot.

- Tricia