Helpsystem in D2006 crashed

rbuser

Hi

I don't know if i am alone with this problem but since the installation of
RB10 Trial for D2006 my help system does not work.

When i call the help via F1 then a box like a listbox comes up with
helpindexes but none of them show me the html-help.

When uninstalling RB 10 Trail and run reghelp -7 and then reghelp 7 i can
reactivating the helpsystem. But always after installing RB 10 Trial the
helpsystem cashes. :-(

Can anyone help me to help the delphi helpsystem with the installed RB 10
Trail?

Thanks and best regards
Robert

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

Take a look at the following article about manually merging the RB help with
the BDS Help2 namespace.

ARTICLE: ReportBuilder Help 2 Help
----------------------------------

INTRODUCTION

Delphi 2005/2006 has migrated its help system from WinHelp to MS Help 2. MS
Help 2 is used by Visual Studio .Net, and the MSDN Library as well. MS Help
2 is very different from WinHelp in that it is HTML based and requires a
minimum of IE 5.0 to run. If you would like more information on what MS
Help 2 is and how to use it correctly, visit http://www.helpware.net.

The ReportBuilder 9 help files have been converted into the Help 2 format in
order to be utilized in Delphi 2005. These help pages are very similar to
the format of the VS .Net help pages as we found they were the most user
friendly.

HELP INSTALLATION

During the installation process, ReportBuilder tries to run a number of
scripts that essentially merge the new ReportBuilder Help into the existing
Borland Help 2 namespace. If you are running some virus protection software
on you machine, it may be stopping or holding up these scripts, preventing
the help from merging correctly. In this case you will need to either
install the help manually or reconfigure your protection software to allow
these scripts to run on your machine.

To manually merge the ReportBuilder help use the RBInstallHelper application
included in the \RBuilder\Help\... directory. Running this program from the
command line without any parameters will display full instructions on its
use. For example, typing the command:

"RBInstallHelper MergeRBuilderHelp"

Will automatically merge the standard ReportBuilder help into the
borland.bds3 namespace. If you have RB Enterprise or Server, you will need
to merge the other help files separately.

HELP RESTORATION

If for some reason your entire help system has become corrupt or simply does
not work correctly, you can perform a complete restore using the
reghelp.exe application provided by Borland. The reghelp.exe application is
located in the \Borland\BDS\3.0\Help\Common\... directory. Running this
program from the command line will also give you instructions on its use.
Typing the command "reghelp 7" will completely restore your Borland help.


--
Regards,

Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com

rbuser

Hi Nico

Thanks for the article but it does not work. :-(

Now i have installed the full version of RB10 Ent. and i have still the same
problem. When pressing F1 i get always a windows with the help indexes.
I tried to merge the RB-help manuelly but not result.

And here is the second bad message: I installed Delphi 2006 Ent. on a new
computer. After then i installed RB10 Ent. But on this computer there is the
same effect - a none working help system. :-((

Have you any idea?

Regards
Robert

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

Thanks for pointing this out. This is currently an open issue and we are
currently researching a solution.

Have you tried merging the ReportBuilder help manually? In all of my tests
I am always able to get the help to work (without F1) no matter how corrupt
my help system has become by doing a manual install.

--
Regards,

Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com

rbuser

Hi Nico


Good to hear that. So i hope i doesn't take to much time for the next
update.


Yes, i tried merging the RB help manually. And i can see that the RB help
will be there.
But as i said, i can see only the help index in a listbox. But the help
links don't work.
When unmerging the RB help, the help indexes are not in the listbox.
So i can say that something works but not properly.

I work on Windows XP SP2 with .Net Framework 1.1 and SDK 1.1, all in the
german language version. Is it possible that this
can make some problems?

An other question: when you merge the help manually what are the steps? (I
know you describe the steps but perhaps you made something else...)
Do you first make a "...\Borland\BDS\4.0\Help\Common\regHelp.exe 7", merge
the RB help and than you make a second
"...\Borland\BDS\4.0\Help\Common\regHelp.exe 7"?

Thanks and best regards
Robert

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

I have worked with the Help 2 system for quite some time now and have come
to realize that it is very easy to get your computer in a state that the
help system is no longer usable no matter what you do to it . Below are
the steps I usually take when manually installing the RB help.

1. Unmerge each RB help section manually using the RBInstallHelper.exe
application.
2. Completely restore the Borland help by calling reghelp 7.
3. Open BDS 2006 and check to see if the help system is functioning
correctly. (I've noticed on one of my computers that if I'm on the Contents
or Index tab when I load the help it will be empty after a merge. Try
selecting the Search tab before closing the help viewer down).
4. Merge each RB help section manually using the RBInstallHelper.exe
application.
5. Open BDS 2006 again and load the help window.

After some extensive testing I have found that we are in fact indexing our
topics and the F1 key works correctly for the object inspector and Report
Designer when the help system is installed successfully. I believe it is
the MS Help 2 system that is somewhat unreliable.

--
Regards,

Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com

rbuser

Hi Nico

Thanks fo the steps below. But ii's always the same effect. When pressing F1
i get a window with the RB-helpindexes (links) and when clicking on the
links nothing happens. :-(

Do you know is there a way to repair the MS help 2?

Regards
Robert

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

The only way I have found to completely restore the Help 2 system is to
reinstall it by reinstalling one of the following Microsoft products...

- Visual Studio .NET
- MSDN Library
- .NET Framework SDK
- MS Office XP/2003 Developer

--
Regards,

Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com