Global Project Linking is no longer working

[sdcinvan]

Hello all,

It seems that after configuring git source control or after upgrading to Flare 2017, my global project linking is no longer working.

When I build a project, I first see the Source Control window, "Querying Source Server" followed by the GPL window, "Auto Sync Import". The build appears to progress normally but once the build has completed, it is apparent that the files from the global project didn't actually get copied to the target project.

Failing to find a GPL sync list or configuration (is there a way to look at the current GPL configuration?), I restarted the Import Flare Project Wizard for the first time in two years and let it update all the global files. It is a set and literally forget feature!

That was successful! All my global files synced with the target project.

Unfortunately, it was just that one time! Even though I selected "Auto-reimport before 'Generate Output'", subsequent builds do not synchronize the changed global project files with the the target project. What is wrong? This has worked flawlessly for more than two years.

Even the mclogs reveal that something has fundamentally changed from before the Flare changes to now. Prior to the changes, the log indicates that it is processing the global files and after the Flare changes, it clearly skips the global files.

Before source control and Flare 2017 update:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<MadCapLog Protocol="2" Description="MadCap Flare 2017 Generated 007-00xxNA-2T-UG-PDF.fltar" Date="2017-02-20T16:31:40.0841675-08:00">
    <Messages>Compiling target 007-00xxNA-2T-UG-PDF...
Getting the latest version of all files in the project...
Querying source control server. This could take several minutes.
All files are up to date.
Sync files from source control in 2 second(s).
Removing previously generated content...
Gathering Glossary information...
Gathering Auto-index information...
Loading Master TOC...
Processing Master TOC...
Generating Glossary...
Processing Page Layouts...
Collecting source files...
Processing source files...
Processing topic: glb_00_cover_page.htm
Processing CSS: glb_resources\Stylesheets\glb_stylesheet.css...
Processing topic: _change_history_ug.htm
Processing topic: glb_0f_how_to_use_guide.htm
Processing topic: glb_0i_toc.htm
Processing topic: 100_intro.htm
Image "Datastream_rear_components.png" regenerated for "printPDF" medium: glb_images\ds_equipment\Datastream_rear_components.png
Processing topic: 130_getting_started.htm
...

After the source control configuration and Flare 2017 update. Building the same file:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<MadCapLog Protocol="2" Description="MadCap Flare 2017 Generated 007-00xxNA-2T-UG-PDF.fltar" Date="2017-02-20T16:31:40.0841675-08:00">
    <Messages>Compiling target 007-00xxNA-2T-UG-PDF...
Getting the latest version of all files in the project...
Querying source control server. This could take several minutes.
All files are up to date.
Sync files from source control in 2 second(s).
Removing previously generated content...
Gathering Glossary information...
Gathering Auto-index information...
Loading Master TOC...
Processing Master TOC...
Generating Glossary...
Processing Page Layouts...
Collecting source files...
Processing source files...
Processing topic: glb_00_cover_page.htm
Processing CSS: glb_resources\Stylesheets\glb_stylesheet.css...
Processing topic: _change_history_ug.htm
Processing topic: glb_0f_how_to_use_guide.htm
Processing topic: glb_0i_toc.htm
Processing topic: 100_intro.htm
Image "Datastream_rear_components.png" regenerated for "printPDF" medium: glb_images\ds_equipment\Datastream_rear_components.png
Processing topic: 130_getting_started.htm
...

Any ideas?

Thank you,
Shawn

[NorthEast]

When I build a project, I first see the Source Control window, "Querying Source Server" followed by the GPL window, "Auto Sync Import". The build appears to progress normally but once the build has completed, it is apparent that the files from the global project didn't actually get copied to the target project.

Failing to find a GPL sync list or configuration (is there a way to look at the current GPL configuration?), I restarted the Import Flare Project Wizard for the first time in two years and let it update all the global files.

On the target General tab, check that you have not selected Disable auto-sync of all import files.

You say you "restarted the Import Flare Project Wizard" - but all you should have to do is open the existing import (in Project>Imports) and click Reimport.

If the existing import didn't work, perhaps something had changed - e.g. moving the location of the imported project files.

[sdcinvan]

When I build a project, I first see the Source Control window, "Querying Source Server" followed by the GPL window, "Auto Sync Import". The build appears to progress normally but once the build has completed, it is apparent that the files from the global project didn't actually get copied to the target project.

Failing to find a GPL sync list or configuration (is there a way to look at the current GPL configuration?), I restarted the Import Flare Project Wizard for the first time in two years and let it update all the global files.

On the target General tab, check that you have not selected Disable auto-sync of all import files.

You say you "restarted the Import Flare Project Wizard" - but all you should have to do is open the existing import (in Project>Imports) and click Reimport.

If the existing import didn't work, perhaps something had changed - e.g. moving the location of the imported project files.

Thank you for your reply David.

a) I have not inadvertently selected the target option General tab, Disable auto-sync of all import files.
b) I tried both the Flare Project Wizard and also gone into the Project Organizer > Imports and selected the import (Project Import Editor - I forgot about that at the time of my post yesterday) - confirmed that Auto-reimport for "Generate Output" was enabled, confirmed the other settings, then clicked Reimport... - Both the wizard and this method do update the target successfully. The problem is that I don't want to have to do this manually every time.
c) The location of everything is the same. Besides, even if anything did change, using the Project Import Wizard yesterday would have reset the GPL settings.
d) The only changes since automatic GPL last worked are the following:
- Configured git source control
- Uninstalled/reinstalled MadCap Flare 2017 (but source projects and folder locations were untouched)

No answers yet. I also sent this is as a support ticket.

----
This is unlikely to be related but another new problem is that whenever I open this project, I now get the following non-fatal error (immediately upon opening):
System.IO.IOException occurred at 2017-02-21 12:35:15 PM
The requested operation cannot be performed on a file with a user-mapped section open

2017-02-21_12-35-43-Error on opening project.png

I can send the report and continue to the project without further issues (except for the aforementioned issue).

Thanks,
Shawn

[sdcinvan]

After some additional testing, I have discovered that although Project Import Editor allows for a manual reimport, which successfully updates the destination target's folders. But no matter how many times I select and run a reimport, the same files are always erroneously appearing with a status of Source is Newer.

I have confirmed multiple times that Flare is wrong! The files in the global and target projects are absolutely identical.

2017-02-21_14-05-17-reimport doesn't clear.png

I've been using GPL for years without a single issue, until now. Any ideas as to what might be going on?

Thanks,
Shawn

[techwriter31]

Is it possible that any of the globally-linked files in your project are read-only at the time of import? We use SVN and our projects are not bound to source control in Flare. We've found that if *any* of the files to be imported are read-only, the import silently fails for all files and the status never updates. In this case, we must first get a lock on all globally imported files in the project so they are read-write.

[sdcinvan]

Is it possible that any of the globally-linked files in your project are read-only at the time of import? We use SVN and our projects are not bound to source control in Flare. We've found that if *any* of the files to be imported are read-only, the import silently fails for all files and the status never updates. In this case, we must first get a lock on all globally imported files in the project so they are read-write.

Thank you for your assistance Kellie.

I just checked and none of the files (both the global master and destination topic) are read-only.

Keep in mind that I can successfully perform a manual reimport. It is just the expected auto import no longer works... despite seeing the Auto Sync Import box appear every time I start a build.

2017-02-21_11-51-30-Auto Sync Import.png

[NorthEast]

After some additional testing, I have discovered that although Project Import Editor allows for a manual reimport, which successfully updates the destination target's folders. But no matter how many times I select and run a reimport, the same files are always erroneously appearing with a status of Source is Newer.

I've been using GPL for years without a single issue, until now. Any ideas as to what might be going on?

The idea is that you set up an import (using the wizard, or adding an import file), then to update files you use the import file in Project > Imports.

But if you've been setting up a brand new import each time using the wizard, then how many import files do you have?
Have you got more than one import from the same project, and are are these imports set to auto-sync? If so, then I'd expect some pretty strange results.


On a side note, if both projects are in source control, then when you import files you need to update files both where 'source is newer' (green) and 'local is newer' (red).

[roboHAL]

Hello Shawn. For whatever its worth, I too have found that the status of source is newer is not always accurate. This issue has been the case for quite some time (probably even predating V10). No apparent rhyme or reason. In my case I have enabled/selected the target option of disabling auto sync of all import files and disabled/deselected the import file option of auto-reimport before generate output. You might try and "clean" your projects via the generic madcap procedure. The aforementioned said, I wouldn't go as far as to indicate the feature isn't working. Perhaps, it isn't working as expected would be more appropriate

[sdcinvan]

Hello all,

Thank you so much for your assistance.

I found the problem... or if not, it is a coincidence that when I enabled Auto-include linked files in the global import file, the synchronization is now working when I run a build.

I thought this selection was enabled yesterday. ???

2017-02-22_10-04-04-Auto-include linked files - fixed GPL.png