Unused folders and files

[Guest]

I maintain the web site documentation for the company I work for. Since 2004 we have been using RoboInfo with RoboEngine, and during this time I know I have cluttered my Local drive with folders and files by trying to experiment with RoboInfo or by renaming the main project to test something. As of February 08, 2008 we were using RoboInfo Pro 5, with RoboEngine 4.0 and I upgraded to RoboHelp HTML V7 using WebHelp Pro to publish to our web site on Feb 11, 2008. I would like at this time to get rid of all unused folder and files.

My Path way to my Single Source Output folder and Start Page is
C:\Production PAID Documentation\PAID Documentation\!SSL!\WebHelp_Pro\PAID.htm

I am also HTTP as my connection Protocol.

What folders and files can I delete safely and it will not affect my project.

[Guest]

I entered the wrong Path, it is

My Path way to my Single Source Output folder and Start Page is
C:\Production PAID Documentation\PAID Documentation\!SSL!\WebHelp_Pro

[RoboColum_n_]

Hi Richard.

Don't get confused between your output and your source files. The path you give is the Webhelp output path but your source is likely to be in C:\Production PAID Documentation\PAID Documentation?

Either way, what you get rid of depends on whether you have backups elsewhere and how much you rely on them. If you have backed your source files (which may or may not include your output) then in theory you only need to keep the latest versions. If however you don't backup, or you are of a nervous disposition, you will want to keep the lot.

[Guest]

I keep backup so I will try deleting everything that is not in my source folder and my Webhelp output path.

[Linux Rules]

Hello Richard -

First, delete the generated files from .../!SSL!/ (use Windows Explorer).

Next, ZIP up your entire project folder (don't forget to include sub folders in your settings).

Open your project in RH7 and run the Tools > Reports > Unused Files (I think that's what it is called - I'm not at an RH7 workstation at the moment).

While still in RH, open the Project Manager view, locate and delete the unused files. This is important to do from within RH as those file names are in the RH database - deleting with Windows Explorer doesn't remove from the DB.

Any files that are listed as unused in the report but don't show up in the RH Project Manager view can be deleted with Windows Explorer.

Regards,
GEWB

[Guest]

Sorry it took me so long to reply I got assigned something else with a higher priority. I have 2 questions.
1. When you say delete generated files from /!SSL!/, do you mean all folders and files under /!SSL!/?
2. Once I have deleted all unused files from the Project Manager and any other files using Windows Explorer, do
I open my Project as normal?

[Linux Rules]

Hello Richard -

You asked:
"1. When you say delete generated files from /!SSL!/, do you mean all folders and files under /!SSL!/?"

Correct. Open the ../!SSL!/ folder in Windows Explorer and delete all content therein.

You asked:
"2. Once I have deleted all unused files from the Project Manager and any other files using Windows Explorer, do
I open my Project as normal?"

You do NOT use Windows Explorer to initially delete files from the project folder. First open your project and get all the necessary RH reports (especially the Unused Files Report), then delete whatever you can using RoboHelp in the Project Management view.

Do this first then get back to us with the results. If more is left we'll go from there.

Regards,
GEWB

[Guest]

I have completed steps 1 and 2 to delete unsed files while in RoboHelp Project Management view.
What is my next step(s)?

[Guest]

When you say 'Zip up your entire project folder" do you want me to copy the project as a backup or create a zip file of the project?

[Linux Rules]

Hello Richard -

I'm suggesting creating a ZIP file of the entire project source files...it becomes your backup in case something goes wrong.

I take a ZIPped backup of my source files almost every day and upload the zip file to two different servers in two cities.

Only after you have a full backup would I recommend deleting files from your project source directory. Better safe than sorry.

Regards,
GEWB

[Linux Rules]

Hello Richard -

Open your project in RoboHelp and Save your project then run the reports again.

Check that there are no more Broken Links or Unused Files.

Run the Used Files report with All Authors and All Folders and Save As an RTF file on your local hard drive.

Close RoboHelp.

Create a new folder on your desktop - give it a name like "Delete RH Files".

Open your project folder in Windows Explorer and open the Used Files file. Position and size the two windows side-by-side. Compare the Used Files list to what is in the project folder.

Any file you see in the Windows Explorer that is NOT listed in the report can be MOVED to the "Delete RH Files" folder you created.

Close Windows Explorer and the Used Files file. I would then make a ZIPped backup of the entire project folder.

Open your project in RH. Generate the project. Check the generated output.

If all is well you are done. Delete the "Delete RH Files" folder you created.

If not well, you have backups - get back to us here on the forum.

Regards,
GEWB

[Guest]

I followed your directions but other problems came up . . On Friday I brought my project backup and nothing would publish on my web site. It would compile and say it successfully published but nothing changed. On Monday I noticed my Computer was slow and it seemed that RoboHelp was causing the problem. I had one of our IT Specialist come and look at my computer and he said there were a lot of error message being logged by RoboHelp. I then noticed that when I would try to bring up a Topic, at the bottom of the screen the scrolling message would be saying ‘Loading file list ‘ and then a little later it would say ‘Building File List’. I did not remember seeing these before when I was opening a Topic to look at.

I decided to load by backup file back down to my ‘C’ drive. This file contained the files from the last time RoboHelp worked under RoboHelp HTML V7, I brought up my project and the problems were still there.

I un-installed and Reinstalled RoboHelp but the problems did not go away.

I then removed my project from Version Control but that did not help either.
Where do I go from here?

I am using RoboHelp HTML V7 with RoboEngine 4.0. My project is set up using Version Control. I Publish to my web site using WebHelp Pro.

[Linux Rules]

quote:

---

Originally posted by: Richard Wright
... he said there were a lot of error message being logged by RoboHelp. I then noticed that when I would try to bring up a Topic, at the bottom of the screen the scrolling message would be saying ‘Loading file list ‘ and then a little later it would say ‘Building File List’. I did not remember seeing these before when I was opening a Topic to look at.

I decided to load by backup file back down to my ‘C’ drive. This file contained the files from the last time RoboHelp worked under RoboHelp HTML V7, I brought up my project and the problems were still there.

I un-installed and Reinstalled RoboHelp but the problems did not go away.

I then removed my project from Version Control but that did not help either.
Where do I go from here?

I am using RoboHelp HTML V7 with RoboEngine 4.0. My project is set up using Version Control. I Publish to my web site using WebHelp Pro.

---

Hello Richard -

What are the error messages?

Not sure about the Loading/Building messages - sounds like a corrupt database file in your project - anyone else have ideas?

Do you have your project layout settings set to "Republish all"?

Regards,
GEWB

[Guest]

I had thought about Republishing all but just have not done. I did not record what the error message were, the IT Specialist has not came back so that I can find out what that message was, sorry.

[HKabaker · Accepted solution]

Richard,

Have a look at the RoboHelp help topics on "project files" and "output files."

The former has a list of files that RH uses for housekeeping, coordinating style sheets, links, skins, and so on. If you deleted any of them, and RoboHelp did not generate new ones, try retrieving them from your original project in the zip backup.

If that doesn't fix the problem, I think GEWB will recommend removing and rebuilding one or more of the housekeeping files.

Post back again.

Harvey

[Linux Rules]

quote:

---

Originally posted by: HKabaker
If that doesn't fix the problem, I think GEWB will recommend removing and rebuilding one or more of the housekeeping files.

---

Hello Harvey -

You need a new screen name - "Mind Reader" (v1.0)

Regards,
GEWB