Preview won't run

jpeffley · Post by **jpeffley** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:02 am

When I try to preview a topic, all of a sudden I'm getting \"Failed to run command \"Preview.\" Exception: Unable to find the specified file.\" This happens with any topic in the project. I can open the .htm outside the project. I tried repairing my installation of 3.1 with no luck.

Other writers can preview the topics OK.

Richard Ferrell · Post by **Richard Ferrell** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:08 am

Does this happen if you open the sample project also? What is your default browser? If you are still having issues, I would uninstall and reinstall Flare.

jpeffley · Post by **jpeffley** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:57 am

I can open another project and preview topics - so I wouldn't think uninstall/reinstall would fix. I deleted my local copy of the project and copied it back down from the server, still can't preview (again, other writers can preview).

Post by **doc_guy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:34 am

If other writers aren't having the same trouble with the same source files, you've got a problem locally.

I'd do as Richard suggested and uninstall and reinstall Flare.

While you're at it, you may uninstall, then delete all the MadCap registry keys, and then re-install. That way you will have a clean installation.

jpeffley · Post by **jpeffley** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:49 pm

I deleted my user in the Output folder and Flare recreated it when I reopened the project - and now preview works.

dano · Post by **dano** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:38 am

I had the same problem a while ago, which turned out to be because i was opening the project from a mapped drive on my machine. Once i navigated to and opened the project properly (i.e. the long way around), all was fine.

Dan.

Janna · Post by **Janna** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:25 pm

Hi there,

I had the same problem. Reinstalled 3.1; that didn't do it. Another topic here on the forums suggested that:
1. .NET Runtime be reinstalled and
2. A primary target be specified.

I had just reinstalled .NET 2.0, so that wasn't it. However, I didn't have a primary target specified, but when I specified a printed output target (which is the project I am working on right now), I got a prompt that Preview is not available with a print target. So I created a webhelp target, made it the primary, and now Preview works.

Hope this helps.

Janna

Richard Ferrell · Post by **Richard Ferrell** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:39 pm

Not having a primary target set is the biggest culprit on issues like these

Post by **RamonS** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:00 am

Wouldn't it then make sense to show a message "Preview is not available when no primary target is selected." ?

KevinDAmery · Post by **KevinDAmery** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:27 am

RamonS wrote:Wouldn't it then make sense to show a message "Preview is not available when no primary target is selected." ?

I'll second that motion...

pouliotmax · Post by **pouliotmax** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:04 am

I had this error when i did not have a primary target

jlemon · Post by **jlemon** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:11 am

I'm having this same problem with Flare 4.0.

So far, I've reinstalled Flare and I've opened the project by navigating to it "the long way" rather than by using the desktop shortcut.

I'm willing to uninstall, edit the registry, and then reinstall, but I'll need some guidance to do so. Can someone tell me how to properly delete the Madcap Flare registry settings?

Thanks,

-John

jlemon · Post by **jlemon** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:14 am

OK. I'm feeling pretty stupid right now.
I just reread the thread and realized I didn't have a designated Primary Target.
Once I assigned one, the Preview worked immediately.
Hooray!
-John

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