14 Replies Latest reply: Feb 3, 2012 11:40 AM by Peter Grainge

Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

tgroppi Nov 8, 2011 11:15 AM

We have a Airhelp generated with RH9 under linux...

We have multiple custom softwares that each have a help button, when clicking on one, we need our Airhelp to start at a specific topics. How would you achieve this, map ids ? topic ids? role ? I m quite confused on how do to this...

Thanks

Best

Thomas

1. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Jeff_Coatsworth Nov 8, 2011 11:40 AM (in response to tgroppi)

Try Peter Grainge's website (grainge.org) about calling help. What method you use depends on what your software is running.
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2. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

tgroppi Jan 24, 2012 11:14 AM (in response to Jeff_Coatsworth)

Cool tx got it to work >>
Here is the proper command to start Asset_Browser.htm (as example)

/corp/projects/library/online_help/Rnk_Docs/help_installed/Rainmaker_Help/bin/Rainmaker_H elp -csh topicurl "rainmaker\Rnk_Softwares\Asset_Browser.htm"
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3. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Peter Grainge Jan 24, 2012 11:24 AM (in response to tgroppi)

Hope it didn't take since November 8th to get it to work.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge
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4. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

ktel_1888 Feb 3, 2012 8:42 AM (in response to tgroppi)

I'm experiencing a similiar issue:

I've made some progress with my context-sensitive help, in that I'm able to get it to open in a popup window with TOC displaying the right page.

My code for this is:

myserverroot/index.htm#<str=map_ID>>

I've been reading the following site and it broke down the API into easy to follow chunks:
http://www.wvanweelden.eu/robohelp/context_sensitivity_in_webhelp/methods_for_calling_Webh elp/regular_start_file

Given the methods described here, I should be able to have my context-sensitive guide open up in my main browser window rather than a popup by utilizing the following string:

myserverroot/index.htm#<str=map_ID>>newwnd=false

However, when I run my tests, the UG still opens in a new popup window.

How can I fix my code so that it displays in my main browser window with the TOC rather than a popup window?
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5. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Jeff_Coatsworth Feb 3, 2012 9:17 AM (in response to ktel_1888)

I'm assuming you're doing the browser-based version of AIRHelp, right? Does this syntax work if you create just regular WebHelp as a test?
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6. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

ktel_1888 Feb 3, 2012 9:25 AM (in response to tgroppi)

I'm not sure where you want me to go with your question, Jeff.

According to both Peter Grainge's site and the van Weelden site, this is exactly the syntax specified by the Adobe API for WebHelp. I am guessing that this API is almost as old as Adobe's WebHelp output itself, so if the syntax does not work at this stage in the game for WebHelp, then maybe there is a problem with the API itself.
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7. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Jeff_Coatsworth Feb 3, 2012 10:00 AM (in response to ktel_1888)

But AIRHelp isn't exactly the same as WebHelp, so I'm not 100% sure that the API will work as you think it should. Also, there are 2 flavours of AIRHelp - locally-installed & browser-based - they aren't the same either, so that's why I was asking.
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8. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

tgroppi Feb 3, 2012 10:04 AM (in response to Peter Grainge)

LOL, no it dindn't but i forgot to post the answer...

Jeff i am using Airhelp (the software) not the web version

Cheers
Thomas
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9. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

ktel_1888 Feb 3, 2012 10:59 AM (in response to tgroppi)

Thanks for the clarification, Jeff. Yes, I am putting together Adobe Air Browser Based Help.

Also, based on what I have seen on the sites mentioned above (especially Peter Grainge's site), they seem to imply that rendering context sensitive help is the same in any output format.

Otherwise, I would hope there would be output-specific APIs informing users of the correct syntax to use.

Are you aware of specific syntax changes necessary to render context-sensitive help with Air Browser Based Help?

At this stage, anything to put me over and complete this project is welcome.
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10. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Jeff_Coatsworth Feb 3, 2012 11:08 AM (in response to ktel_1888)

Sorry, no, I have no experience with the browser-based version; we use the locally-installed one. I know that my developer can launch the help in a CSH manner that puts the correct topic in the right hand pane, but we've never tried (or had any need to) to launch it into the middle of a topic (like, say at a specific bookmark).
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11. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

ktel_1888 Feb 3, 2012 11:10 AM (in response to tgroppi)

Thanks Jeff. Hopefully an Adobe professional will step up and help us out.

To clarify, I'm not necessarily looking to launch into the middle of a topic.

I'm looking to launch in the main browser window, not in a popup.
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12. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Peter Grainge Feb 3, 2012 11:30 AM (in response to ktel_1888)

The method used by the originator of this thread is posted earlier on. I cannot help you with using map ids but there are links in the AIR pages on my site that may help.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge
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13. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

ktel_1888 Feb 3, 2012 11:33 AM (in response to tgroppi)

Hi Peter:

I've seen similar posts to yours all over the web. It seems like these posts exist purely as drivers to your website. While your website is somewhat helpful, it might be more helpful if you actually posted content when replying to people looking for help.
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14. Re: Context sentive help, starting Airhelp at a specific topic

Peter Grainge Feb 3, 2012 11:40 AM (in response to ktel_1888)

Why would I want drivers to my site given that everything is free and there is no advertising income. The whole idea of putting the information there is to give people full explanations which I could not repeat in every thread where the questions arise.

If I did try to put all the explanations in the threads, I would not have any time to myself. You may be working right now but here it evening time so I will now enjoy the rest of it and leave you to follow this up in the new thread you have started.

I will leave your posts alone as you obviously don't like the way I try to help.

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge
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