Generate Microsoft HTML Help output

Generating Microsoft HTML output in RoboHelp helps you create in-app Help for Windows desktop apps.   

The main components of HTML Help include the following:

• Compressed HTML: A collection of all files in the project in a single CHM file that occupies less disk space and is faster to load. You can ship this compiled file with an application or distribute it to users as a stand-alone online document.
• HTML Help viewer: Displays compiled HTML Help (CHM file). It uses components of the Internet Explorer browser while displaying content in its proprietary window interface.
• Layout engine: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and later supply the required components for HTML Help support.
• HTML Help ActiveX control: Supports navigation features, such as the Table of Contents, index, and link controls (related topics and keyword links). It also supports HTML Help controls: WinHelp topic links, startup screens, and close window controls.

Configure a Microsoft HTML Help output preset

The first step in generating the output of a RoboHelp project is to create an output preset and then configure the various settings of the output preset. You can use the following settings to configure a Microsoft HTML output preset:

General

Use the following options to specify basic output settings, such as title, output path, language of UI strings, and more.

Title Specify the title for the generated output. 

You can use variables in the title. To do so, type Ctrl + 1 and select a variable from the drop-down list, and then press Enter. Note that if you have provided a variable set in the Content tab > Variable Set field, during output generation, the value of the selected variable is picked from the variable set.

Output Path Specify a location for the output. To select a location, click  . 

Ensure that the output path is NOT located inside the project folder. If the output path is inside the project folder, the output generation fails. Also the folder you select should NOT have any content that you need. RoboHelp deletes the contents of the folder before generating the output.

Save output path as relative to project: If enabled and you browse to the output path., the path to the output will now be a relative instead of absolute. 

CHM file Specify the CHM filename with extension .chm.

Language Use the drop-down list to specify a language for the tab titles in the output. Specify this setting if you want to change the specified language in project settings.

Post Generation Script To run your custom script after output generation, select the script .js file from the drop-down list.

Content

Use the following options to specify content-related output settings, such as the settings for Table of Contents, index, glossary, and condition expression.

Table Of Contents Use the drop-down list to select a Table of Contents to be included in the output. This drop-down list displays the Tables of Contents available in your project. The first Table of Contents in this drop-down list is selected by default.

The set of files and their references present in the selected Table of Contents appear in the generated output.

Default Topic Click  to select the topic that displays in the Topic panel when you open the output. By default, the first topic in the Table of Contents selected for this output is the default topic.

Include Index Select this setting to include the index page in the output.

Glossary Use the drop-down list to select the glossary to be included in the output. The glossary helps your users to quickly retrieve the relevant terms in your project, with the corresponding definitions.

Condition Expression Use the drop-down list to specify the condition expression for your output. This setting allows you to easily include or exclude content depending on the desired type of output or userbase. Click  to edit the selected condition expression. You can also select None in the drop-down list to not specify any condition expression.

Variable Set Use the drop-down list to specify the variable set to use in this output. In the drop-down list, you can select <Default Variable Set> to use the project's default variable set. Variable sets help you implement output-specific use of variables. For example, you can have different variable sets for generating output for customers and internal users.

Layout

Use the following options to configure the appearance of your output.

Topic Layout Select the topic layout from the drop down menu.

Default Window Select the default window from the drop down menu for output.

Generate Microsoft HTML Help output