MadCap Software Forums

I've noticed that the Content Explorer is not updating its tree structure display when I create new topics and snippets in a project.

At first, I thought that the display would be updated when I saved the new topic or snippet or perhaps after I closed the new topic or snippet. I've also tried closing and reopening the folder that contains the new topic or snippet, but to no avail.

The only way I can see my new topics and snippets in the Content Explorer is to close the CE, then reopen it. I'm creating the snippets with the intention of immediately inserting them in the new topics, and this is adding a lot of excess clicking to my day.

Does anyone know why this is happening? Any suggestions as to how I can get the CE to update itself at least somewhat dynamically? I'm using Flare 3.1 on a Mac in an XP/Boot Camp-Parallels 3.0 VM.

Thanks!

I noticed this in v1 and v2 when my project was stored on a networked drive. I've since resorted to creating the projects off my root C:\ drive and then copying them to the networked drive so that they can be backed up during the company's normal nightly backup procedure. I haven't worked directly off a networked drive in awhile (mainly because our network was slow or that particular server kept running out of room), so I don't know if this is still a problem in v3 or if your update problem is a result of your environment (running on a Mac in a VM).

As I recall, I could refresh the Content Explorer list by left-clicking on the parent folder and pressing F5, which on Windows machines is a refresh command. I don't know if it's the same option on a Mac (it's been about a decade since I worked with Macs) and I'm not sure how running a Windows VM gives you the same Windows options or not, but you could try the F5 option.

I think the CE also refreshed if I switched to the Project Organizer and then back to CE, but I'm not positive about that.

Lisa,
Thanks -- both your suggestions work.

My project had been in a location that Parallels interpreted to be a network drive. With the project there, I could use F5 to refresh the Content Explorer display. (Toggling between CE and PE did not do the trick, though.).

I moved the project to Parallels C: drive, and then CE updated its display immediately.

Incidentally, when the project was on the pseudo-network drive, IE balked at opening my WebHelp output ("can't find the file"). When I moved it to the c: drive, all was well.

You've saved me many a click --
Tracey