Quick Help functions

pwdiener · Post by **pwdiener** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:11 pm

Jussi,

I've recently been working on a project generating API style documentation for a set of COBOL programs. I've got this done, and can generate a CHM file that works as a quick help file for the set. So far so good.

My observation is that when I regenerate the CHM file, Zeus can no longer reference it reliably. Sometimes that seems to mean not at all, other times it means that it can find topics, but the help display shows no contents or index tab. Is this what I should expect?

Is there a utility or macro function that I might use to tell Zeus to refresh? I guess I could put one together using AutoHotKey or something, but an "official" procedure might be more reliable.

Bill

Post by **jussij** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:53 pm

My observation is that when I regenerate the CHM file, Zeus can no longer reference it reliably.

Are you sure that the CHM file you created contains valid index information

Is there a utility or macro function that I might use to tell Zeus to refresh?

No.

but the help display shows no contents or index tab.

All Zeus does is read the index information from the CHM file and it then uses this information as a basis for the Quick help search.

It does this at the time the file is first added to the Quick Help for the document type.

So for example if you use the Help, Contents menu to bring up the Zeus CHM file you will see an Index tab in the CHM viewer.

You can do a Quick Help that will work for any Zeus keyword (or partial word) displayed in this index.

So if you load up one of your CHM files in the Viewer and it does not contain an Index tab or that Index tab is empty then that is the problem you are seeing.

Cheers Jussi

pwdiener · Post by **pwdiener** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:02 pm

No, it works fine until I regenerate the CHM file, then it behaves erratically. I did not cycle Zeus when I regererated - maybe that would do the trick.

I think the key may be the "load at add time" functionality. If you load index data when the file is added, what happens if the file changes?

Bill

Post by **jussij** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:15 am

If you load index data when the file is added, what happens if the file changes?

The Zeus index data will be out of date meaning the help file will need to be re-imported.

Cheers Jussi

pwdiener · Post by **pwdiener** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:25 am

That's what I thought. I was looking for a way to automate that process somehow, since this is a fairly dynamic set of functions, with changes weekly or so. If there isn't any other way, I'll see what I can accomplish with AutoHotKey. Thanks.

Bill