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Help not working on network - but then again ...

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    Help not working on network - but then again ...

    I have finally figured out how to design and implement help screens - thanks to the generous suugestions of Tom Cone and Charlie Crimmel. I am using EasyHelp and it is really easy to use and quite powerful. Thanks guys!

    However, when I copy the modified application to the server in the office, and then run network optimze again from each station, the station's cannot access the help file. Upon looking into this, it is because the station looks in the shadow directory for the help file, and it cannot be found there because network optimize does not copy that type of file. Thus, I fixed the problem by manually copying the help file to the shadow directory of each station. This works. But is it the best way to do this? Isn't there a way for it to be done automatically?

    Gary Traub
    Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.


    #2
    RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

    Nope. Network optimize doesn't know about your help file, or any other files you put in the database folder that are not 'part' of the database itself.

    -- tom

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

      So, how would you suggest that thus be automated?

      Gary
      Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

        gary:
        you can set up a batch file that would be installed on the network. use the sys_shell to execute the batch.

        the batch file would copy the help file to the appropricate
        shadow directory.

        bob adler

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

          Bob:

          Thanks. Sounds like a good idea. I'll work with that.

          Gary
          Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

            Quit the copying!!! I had the same issue but solved it with the use of the A5.get_master_path() command.

            Here's the script I use to open the contents page of my PTracker help file:


            Code:
            DECLARE USER32 WinHelp@WinHelpA WWCWL
            
            IF a5.get_master_path() = ""
            	current_path = a5.get_path() + chr(92)
            ELSE
            	current_path = a5.get_master_path() + chr(92)
            END IF
            
            IF file_exists( current_path + "ptrack4.hlp" )
            	WinHelp( 0, current_path + "ptrack4.hlp", 3, 0 )
            ELSE
            	ui_msg_box( "HELP NOT FOUND", "Could not locate the 'PTrack4.hlp' file.", 16 )
            END IF
            
            END

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

              Tom:

              Looks good to me - I'll try it out on the network tomorrow. Thanks for the effort.

              Gary
              Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

                Gary, Ira et al,
                How to set up a comprehensive HELP system in an A5 app would be a great topic for discussion at the upcoming Alpha Five Conference in December.
                Gary

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Help not working on network - but then again .

                  Gary, in my opinion, the hard part is creating the Windows Help program. This can be as time consuming as building the application itself. Of course, creating the Windows Help program has no direct relationship to anything in A5.

                  I don't like using A5 forms, msg_boxes, etc. for extensive help because it is too difficult to provide all the nice links than can be handled automatically (well, easily) by a good Help program.

                  Once the Windows Help program is created, building links to it in your application is fairly easy.

                  Cal

                  Comment

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