PDF doesn't display in CHM output

This forum is for all Flare issues related to the Microsoft HTML Help target.
This target produces "CHM" files in the output.
Post Reply
todd.richardson
Sr. Propeller Head
Posts: 184
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:43 am
Location: Massachusetts

PDF doesn't display in CHM output

Post by todd.richardson »

Hello,

I have linked a TOC entry to a PDF file that resides in a subfolder called "PDF" under the Content folder. When I compile the CHM Help, then click the PDF TOC entry ("Installing the Runtime" in the example below, the content window is blank but for a small X icon - as if the linked PDF file cannot be located.

Image

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks.
Todd Richardson
Engineering Team Lead – Customer Experience | IntervalZero

Windows 10, Flare 2020
RamonS
Senior Propellus Maximus
Posts: 4293
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:29 am
Location: The Electric City

Re: PDF doesn't display in CHM output

Post by RamonS »

Is there any default application registered for PDFs? And what do you expect to happen? The best I can think of is that the link opens the reader which then opens the file, but it seems as if you compiled the file into the CHM. Did this ever work before?
todd.richardson
Sr. Propeller Head
Posts: 184
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:43 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: PDF doesn't display in CHM output

Post by todd.richardson »

Thanks for the reply. This is my first attempt to include PDFs in a HTML TOC. My expectation is the user will be able to open the linked PDF (inside the CHM window, or, preferably, outside of it). I suppose I should have prefaced my post by asking if this is even possible. Is it?

How/where do you register a program for PDFs?
Todd Richardson
Engineering Team Lead – Customer Experience | IntervalZero

Windows 10, Flare 2020
RamonS
Senior Propellus Maximus
Posts: 4293
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:29 am
Location: The Electric City

Re: PDF doesn't display in CHM output

Post by RamonS »

I doubt it, definitely not within the help viewer. The help viewer would need to know how to render PDFs and the CHM Viewer barely knows how to work with HTML. What you can try is a relative link to an external file in the file system, that means you will not compile the PDF into the CHM, but leave it as extra file in the same folder. This page http://www.cybertext.com.au/tips_HTML_chm_external.htm might also give some pointers.
That said, how about 'converting' the PDF into a real topic. Then you don't have to play tricks to get the file to show up.
Bernie123
Propeller Head
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:20 pm

Re: PDF doesn't display in CHM output

Post by Bernie123 »

No the above is not quite true.

We have been making a chm product with Flare for several years.
Embedded PDF files as hyperlinks and it all worked fine.

I have just complied our latest update and the the pdf's don't display.

My guess its some windows update!!
Post Reply