I've taught my Integrating Adobe's Technical Communication Suite class several times now. It's a tough class to teach because we bounce from Captivate to FrameMaker to RoboHelp and back again as we test the integration features. Most of my students would agree that taking FrameMaker book files into a RoboHelp project works very well, and is very cool.
However, I'd be less than honest if I said the integration process always goes smoothly. In fact, as I've taught the integration process to more and more clients, I've come across some RoboHelp crashes. Here is one in particular that I can help you resolve.
Just after importing a FrameMaker book file into RoboHelp by Reference, or just after updating the imported book file's settings, RoboHelp crashes.
Upon restarting RoboHelp and attempting to reopen the project, RoboHelp crashes again, and again, and again. (Or maybe the project will open but you are presented with a message about a corrupt CPD file.)
If this happens to you, follow these steps to resolve the issue (it has worked for me nearly every time):
- Prior to opening the RoboHelp project, navigate to the project folder and delete the CPD file (the file will likely have the same name as your project file)
Note: Prior to deleting it, you might want to make a backup copy of the CPD file and keep it in safe place. By deleting the CPD file, much of your project structure will be lost when you reopen the project.
- Start RoboHelp and open the project (this time you should not see the message about the CPD file since you deleted it… when you open the project, a new CPD file will be created)
- On the Project Manager pod, delete the reference to the FrameMaker book file
- Reimport the FrameMaker book file by reference and you should be set
You will need to redo your import settings and maps for the FrameMaker file, but I've found that the process takes just a few minutes and is more annoying than it is lethal.
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Hi,
I’ve followed the instructions above to delete the CPD file, but RoboHelp still crashes when I attempt to load the Book file by reference. Any other ideas? If it still crashes, will I need to import each FrameMaker file individually (import by reference)?
Hi,
I’ve followed the instructions above to delete the CPD file, but RoboHelp still crashes when I attempt to load the Book file by reference. Any other ideas? If it still crashes, will I need to import each FrameMaker file individually (import by reference)?
Hi,
I’ve followed the instructions above to delete the CPD file, but RoboHelp still crashes when I attempt to load the Book file by reference. Any other ideas? If it still crashes, will I need to import each FrameMaker file individually (import by reference)?
Hmmmm… did you delete the reference to the original FrameMaker book file?
Also, is the RoboHelp project on your hard drive?
Hmmmm… did you delete the reference to the original FrameMaker book file?
Also, is the RoboHelp project on your hard drive?
Hmmmm… did you delete the reference to the original FrameMaker book file?
Also, is the RoboHelp project on your hard drive?
Thanks, Kevin. Yes, the project is on my hard drive.
I called Adobe Tech Support, and they also suggested deleting the old book file and creating a new one. But that didn’t work either. They’re looking at my files now.
What’s an alternative? Do I just load each file individually?
Thanks, Kevin. Yes, the project is on my hard drive.
I called Adobe Tech Support, and they also suggested deleting the old book file and creating a new one. But that didn’t work either. They’re looking at my files now.
What’s an alternative? Do I just load each file individually?
Thanks, Kevin. Yes, the project is on my hard drive.
I called Adobe Tech Support, and they also suggested deleting the old book file and creating a new one. But that didn’t work either. They’re looking at my files now.
What’s an alternative? Do I just load each file individually?
I wouldn’t. The whole point to importing the book file by reference is gaining the book’s TOC and Index.
If the project is fried, and Adobe can’t help, I’d create a new project. Keep in mind that you only need one topic in the project prior to importing the FM book. If the only thing in the RH project is the FrameMaker book, it shouldn’t take but a few minutes.
Kevin
I wouldn’t. The whole point to importing the book file by reference is gaining the book’s TOC and Index.
If the project is fried, and Adobe can’t help, I’d create a new project. Keep in mind that you only need one topic in the project prior to importing the FM book. If the only thing in the RH project is the FrameMaker book, it shouldn’t take but a few minutes.
Kevin
I wouldn’t. The whole point to importing the book file by reference is gaining the book’s TOC and Index.
If the project is fried, and Adobe can’t help, I’d create a new project. Keep in mind that you only need one topic in the project prior to importing the FM book. If the only thing in the RH project is the FrameMaker book, it shouldn’t take but a few minutes.
Kevin
I work in a source control environment and face this issue of corrupt .cpd. i have deleted the .cpd and .xpj and then opened .hhp. it created a new .cpd and a new .xpj but with the same error…all the topics have a crossed mark above the ‘question mark’ icon for a file. I am tired of all that I can do. hoping to get some solution to this. version of RH I work on is 7.0.
I work in a source control environment and face this issue of corrupt .cpd. i have deleted the .cpd and .xpj and then opened .hhp. it created a new .cpd and a new .xpj but with the same error…all the topics have a crossed mark above the ‘question mark’ icon for a file. I am tired of all that I can do. hoping to get some solution to this. version of RH I work on is 7.0.
I work in a source control environment and face this issue of corrupt .cpd. i have deleted the .cpd and .xpj and then opened .hhp. it created a new .cpd and a new .xpj but with the same error…all the topics have a crossed mark above the ‘question mark’ icon for a file. I am tired of all that I can do. hoping to get some solution to this. version of RH I work on is 7.0.