Robo import error: Length cannot be less than zero

[jlemon]

Many of our projects were done with RoboHelp (I'm using RoboHelp HTML X5.0.2).
I'm trying to import some of these projects into Flare. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't, and I get the following error: "Length cannot be less than zero."
I don't want to sound nasty, but this type of GUI feedback is useless when it comes to trying to troubleshoot technical issues.
Does anyone here know what this error means and what I can do to work around it?
Thank you,
-John Lemon

[Richard Ferrell]

This is not normal for a RH imported project, I would recommend that you open a support ticket by using the following link.

https://www.madcapsoftware.com/support/contact.aspx

[RamonS]

I agree, in general the Flare error messages are less than helpful. A system crash or BSOD is as informative. Any chance that error messaging can be done with a little bit more care and effort?

[Landy]

I am in the middle of trialling Flare 4.2 and getting this error also when trying to import RH 2002/X3 projects:

Project Importer (Internal Error): Length cannot be less than zero
Parameter name: length.

If I can't import any of our RH projects then I cannot determine whether or not Flare is the right tool for us.
Was this issue resolved and/or how can I get around it to import the RH projects?

[Madcap Guru]

Flare was not designed to import RH 2002, But you could try importing the HHP file instead, It may work for you. IF you are still having problems contact Sales at Sales@madcapsoftware.com and they can get you in touch with Tech support

[gfevrier]

I am getting the same error when trying to import RoboHelp 7 projects into Flare V4.2:
"Project Importer (Internal Error): Length cannot be less than zero. Parameter name: length."

I tried importing both an English and French project, and even tried importing a sample project in RoboHelp: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Documents\Adobe\Adobe RoboHelp 7\RoboHTML\Samples\Clownfish_School\Clownfish_School.xpj

(I also tried importing the .hhp file and same error).

I submitted this to support on 7/30/09 and am waiting for a response. I really wish I could get this to work since we'd like to switch from RoboHelp to Flare because we're currently using both tools and want to use only Flare.

[gfevrier]

The problem has been solved by Madcap Flare Support and they're going to post a knowledge article.
In RoboHelp 7, there's a custom dictionary file (*.tlx) in C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\eHelp\lexicons\. The terms in the file should look like this with an "i" in the second column:
term i
Second i
Etc i

You can either add the "i" or delete the line, or delete the file. I deleted the entire .tlx file since I really don't use a custom dictionary. Then I imported several of my projects and it worked without a problem. (I imported them into Flare v5.)