Getting started

1. Close any other Adobe applications open on your computer.

2. Insert the installation disc into your hard drive, and follow the onscreen instructions.

For more information, see the ReadMe file on the installation disc.

For Help with installation issues, see the Up and running section on the RoboHelp hub page.

During the installation process, your Adobe software contacts an Adobe server to complete the license activation process. No personal data is transmitted. For more information on product activation, visit the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/go/activation.

Register your product to receive complimentary installation support, notifications of updates, and other services.

 To register, follow the onscreen instructions in the Registration dialog box, which appears after you install the software.

If you postpone registration, you can register at any time by choosing Help > Registration.

After you have used your Adobe software a certain number of times, a dialog box appears, asking whether you want to participate in Adobe Product Improvement Program.

If you choose to participate, data about your use of Adobe software is sent to Adobe. No personal information is recorded or sent. The Adobe Product Improvement Program only collects information about the features and tools that you use in the software and how often you use them.

You can opt in to or opt out of the program at any time:

• To participate, choose Help > Adobe Product Improvement Program and click Yes, Participate.

• To stop participating, choose Help > Adobe Product Improvement Program and click No, Thank You.

Adobe provides more information about the Adobe Product Improvement Program in a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list on the Adobe website.

Adobe Community Help is an integrated environment on Adobe.com that gives you access to community-generated content moderated by Adobe and industry experts. Think of Community Help as collections of related items rather than books. Adobe continually curates and adds to these collections.

You can enhance your product by integrating various services, plug-ins, and extensions in your product. You can also download samples and other assets and see various resources to get your work done.

Enhanced Find and Replace

RoboHelp 10 comes with a significantly enhanced tool for finding and replacing text across files. The Find and Replace tool works unobtrusively and supports both wild cards and regular expressions. See Find and replace text in files.

New External Content Search pod

The workflow for setting up search to include external content—a feature introduced in RoboHelp 9—has been streamlined in RoboHelp to provide ease of use. Access the External Content Search pod from the View menu and specify URLs for content available outside the Help system (for example, in blogs) and map them to terms that users are likely to search for. By curating relevant content in this way, you can optimize the search experience for users and provide easy access to user-generated content. See External content search.

Support for applying CBTs to external content search definition

You can now apply a CBT to each external content search definition. For example, you can add a CBT to make sure that a high-quality video mapped to a search keyword is played only if the output is accessed from a mobile device. For information about the procedure, see External content search.

Window creation delinked from primary layout selection

In RoboHelp 9, any new window you create is of the same type as the primary layout in the SSL pod. In RoboHelp 10, you can select a window type when creating a window. This feature allows you to delink the creation of a window from the primary layout selection in the Single Source Layouts pod. See Windows.

Refresh option in Resource Manager

SharePoint folders added as shared locations in the Resource Manager pod are not automatically refreshed. With the new Refresh icon in Resource Manager, you can now manually refresh the contents of any shared location. See Managing resources.

Editing projects over the network

Opening and editing RoboHelp projects over the network is a tedious experience in previous versions of RoboHelp. In RoboHelp 10, architectural changes have been made to enable you to access projects over the network.

Note: The overall experience depends on your network speed and the size of the project you are accessing.

Support for User Defined Variables in topic titles

In RoboHelp 10, you can use UDVs not just in topic contents, TOCs, or index terms but also in topic titles. With this enhancement, you can use UDVs instead of actual product names and or feature names in topic titles and avoid rework if these names undergo frequent or last-minute changes. For step-by-step information, see User-defined variables.

Support for CSS styling of snippets

In RoboHelp 10, you can create different styles for different snippets and attach the style sheets with the snippets. RoboHelp displays the snippet contents with the look-and-feel defined in the style sheet. You can specify a CSS before inserting the table and list style in the snippet, and RoboHelp will copy these styles to the CSS on the first use. For step-by-step information, see Create and manage snippets.

Note: The Topic CSS overrides the snippet CSS.

Title and ALT attributes for images

In RoboHelp 10, you can specify the TITLE and ALT attributes of an image using the Screen Tip and ALT Text options. The default value of both TITLE and ALT attributes will be empty.

If you generate 508-compliant output in WebHelp (or enable accessibility in Printed Documentation) and the ALT attribute is empty, RoboHelp sets the value of the ALT attribute with value of the TITLE attribute (if it exists) or the image name. For step-by-step information, see Edit an image in RoboHelp.

Support for latest devices, products, and browsers

Stay up-to-date with support for the latest platforms, browsers, and devices (eBook readers, mobile devices, tablet PCs, and more). End users can view content generated from RoboHelp in the latest version of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.

Integration with FrameMaker 11, Adobe Captivate 6, and Acrobat 10

RoboHelp 10 supports the latest version of Adobe products such as FrameMaker 11, Adobe Captivate 6, and Acrobat 10. Leverage the latest enhancements in these products, such as support for adding hotspots in graphics in FrameMaker 11, or support for generating HTML5 output in Adobe Captivate 6.

General import and linking enhancements

In RoboHelp 10, the following enhancements apply to import and linking of both Microsoft Word and FrameMaker documents:

Automap styles

RoboHelp provides a quick option to map paragraph, character, and table styles in Microsoft Word and FrameMaker files to the corresponding styles in the CSS selected for style mapping. The style names in the FrameMaker files and the CSS should be same for automap to work. See Automap.

Enhanced FrameMaker import and linking

In RoboHelp 10, FrameMaker document import and linking includes the following additional enhancements:

Enhanced pagination and topic naming of imported or linked content

In RoboHelp 9, you can paginate a document or split the document into topics based on paragraph styles or a marker type. In RoboHelp 10, you can use a combination of both paragraph styles and marker type. This enhancement gives you more ways to implement pagination. For example, you can now specify that a document should be paginated on Heading 1 with some exceptions or a document should be paginated on Heading 1 and in some cases on Heading 2 as well. Topic names are based on the topic name pattern specified in the Other Settings tab of the Conversion Settings dialog box or the marker text specified in the FrameMaker document for the marker type used for pagination. See Setting pagination and topic names.

Support for FrameMaker-generated TOC and index in FrameMaker DITA map import and linking

FrameMaker now creates a TOC and index while converting a DITA map as a book with FrameMaker component. When you import or link a DITA map in your RoboHelp project, you can use the FrameMaker-created TOC and index to create a TOC and index or add to an existing TOC and index in the project.

U3D view links in imported or linked FrameMaker content

FrameMaker 11 allows you to create hyperlinks to a U3D view. When you import or link FrameMaker content, these hyperlinks work if the U3D view and all objects linking to it are placed in an anchored frame. While conversion, RoboHelp generates a PDF for each U3D view placed in an anchored frame and embeds the PDF in an iframe in the topic. During conversion, if RoboHelp finds that a U3D view is linked to any object outside the anchored frame, it removes the hyperlink.

RoboHelp 9 introduced workflows for authors, SMEs, and end users to collaborate in multiple ways. In RoboHelp 10, some of these workflows have been enhanced to address specific needs of RoboHelp users.

Enhancements in PDF review

Create a PDF from an entire RoboHelp project or from parts of it, including topics, master pages, and snippets, and send it for review (Reviewers only need the free Adobe Reader to add comments to the PDF). After the review ends, import the comments into the project and view and manage the feedback from Review Pane. For step-by-step instructions, see PDF review and Manage comments and changes.

TOC-based review

When you create a PDF for review (select Review > Create PDF For Review), RoboHelp displays the list of topics in the current project so you can select a set of topics to include in the PDF. By default, RoboHelp shows the list of topics as it appears in Project Manager. This default view is not useful if you generate output based on multiple TOCs and need to select a set of topics from a TOC to include in the PDF for review. In such scenarios, the new option to show files from a selected Table of Contents comes in handy.

The Exclude TOC Items Not Linked To Topics option helps you ensure that the PDF you create based on the selected TOC does not contain TOC items that are linked to the options on the Link menu.

Filter topics or files based on date modified

When creating a PDF for review in RoboHelp 9, you can select a topic status for Robohelp to filter topics or files with that status from the project. In RoboHelp 10, you can use the last modified date independently or in conjunction with the topics status to specify the criteria for selecting topics for the PDF for review.

Use CBTs to include or exclude topics in the review PDF

RoboHelp 10 gives you a quick way to select the content for the review PDF.

Autoset statuses as Sent For Review and Reviewed

RoboHelp 10 comes with two new topic statuses, Sent For Review and Reviewed. Just as you assign other topic statuses, you can edit the properties of the current topic and manually assign one of these statuses. However, with a single click, you can assign these statuses to a set of topics in the following scenarios:

• When creating a PDF for review

  If you select the Set Topic Status To Sent For Review option, RoboHelp updates the statuses of the topics being sent for review to Sent For Review.

• When importing the comments

  In RoboHelp 10, the Import Comment Summary screen contains a new option called Update Status to Reviewed. If you select this option, RoboHelp updates the statuses of all topics that are being imported after review to Reviewed.

New Multiscreen HTML5 SSL to generate different output for different devices

RoboHelp 10 provides a new Multiscreen HTML5 SSL, which lets you generate output for multiple devices, such as smartphones and tablets, from the same source content. The generated output is HTML5-compatible and adaptive to different screen sizes and interactivity features that mobile devices provide. For example, users can access your content seamlessly across Android smartphones, the iPad (9.7 inches screen), and the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet.

What’s more, you can use Multiscreen HTML5 in place of WebHelp to leverage the power of HTML5. For example, you can generate desktop Help with a new frameless look-and-feel, add high-quality videos, and provide a uniform crossbrowser experience.

Videos with .mp4, .ogg, .ogv, and .webm file extensions play natively in the browser, without requiring additional plugins. If a browser can’t play MP4 videos natively, QuickTime is used.

For more information, see Multiscreen HTML5 layout.

Support for packaging Help content as a native mobile app

Using RoboHelp 10, you can package your content as a native mobile app. This functionality is currently available for the Android mobile operating system.

RoboHelp-generated Android project files are development versions. You can test and debug these files and then publish them to user devices and/or Google Play. See Generate a native mobile app.

Support for Help integration with iOS and Android apps

RoboHelp provides an API that you can leverage to integrate Multiscreen HTML5 output with iOS and Android apps. The API ships with the source code for the included functions as well as sample apps demonstrating the usage of the exposed API.

iOS sample app demonstrating mobile Help API capabilities

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Android sample app demonstrating mobile Help API capabilities

This feature is supported for iOS versions 5 (and later) and Android 2.2 (and higher). You can leverage the following capabilities using the mobile Help API:

• Embed the Help into the app

• Open the Help in the in-app browser or the default browser for the mobile operating system

• Implement context-sensitive Help from mobile app screens

• Host the Help on a server and link to it from within the mobile app

For more information, see Create Help for iOS and Android apps.

Customizable screen profiles and screen layouts

Your RoboHelp 10 installation includes a set of screen profiles suitable for standard devices and a variety of screen layouts that help you generate output with different look and feel (for example, with the Table of Contents placed on the right). You can customize these screen profiles for new devices and use the powerful Screen Layout Editor to customize the screen layouts in a variety of ways.

Support for media queries

With this support, you can now style your content differently for different media or devices. For example, you can use media queries to style images and hyperlinks differently for printed and online content. Use the Style pod to define and apply styles and define the media query. Choose the media view in your editor to see how the content will be rendered.

See Media queries.

New eBook SSL to generate EPUB 3 and Kindle Book output

RoboHelp 9 provides the capability to generate EPUB 2 output using a script. In RoboHelp 10, the script for generating EPUB 2 output has been enhanced to address several known user requirements. What’s more, EPUB support has been extended for generating EPUB 3 output as well. You can configure the new eBook SSL, provide standard as well as custom metadata, and generate output that conforms to EPUB 3 specifications. See Generate EPUB and Kindle Book output and Generate EPUB 2.0.1 output.

Native SharePoint (ASPX) output generation

RoboHelp 10 supports publishing WebHelp, FlashHelp, and Browser based Help (Adobe AIR SSL) output to a SharePoint site using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path. See Generate WebHelp output, Generate FlashHelp output, and Configure a server to host browser-based Help. This output is in HTML format and therefore does not blend with the SharePoint chrome (the navigational links, branding, and UI options that come from a SharePoint master page and are common to all SharePoint pages).

RoboHelp 10 supports publishing the Multiscreen HTML5 output to SharePoint in its native format (ASPX), ensuring a problem-free display of output in both SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2007. When you view the published output, the topics appear in the SharePoint chrome as a single continuous HTML page. See Generate Multiscreen HTML5 output.

New script to generate output with the glossary restyled as popups or tooltips

When you generate the output of a RoboHelp project in a layout selected from the Single Source Layouts pod, RoboHelp generates the glossary as expanding hotspots. RoboHelp 10 comes with a script to generate output for a selected layout with the glossary restyled as popups or tooltips.

Popup and Tooltip options for the glossary

Run Glossary Hotspot Wizard once and select Tools > Scripts > Output Generator With Glossary Restyling to run this script. See About ExtendScript Toolkit support

New script to generate WebHelp output as a single CHM file

RoboHelp 10 comes with the WebHelp To CHM Converter script to generate WebHelp output as a single CHM file. Before running the script, you can customize the WebHelp layout to add the color and branding you prefer in the CHM output.

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The WebHelp layout settings control the appearance of the CHM output

Select Tools > Scripts > WebHelp To CHM Converter to run this script. See About ExtendScript Toolkit support.

Enhanced search experience

In RoboHelp 9, significant changes are made to ensure that end users have a better search experience. Using the option to exclude unreferenced topics from the output and unreferenced baggage files from search, you can ensure more relevant search results.

RoboHelp 10 comes with more options to provide an enhanced search experience:

• Show the total number of search results

• Support AND search

• AND search configurability for end users

• Exclude specified baggage file types from search

• Support CJK (Chinese/Japanese/Korean) content in search queries

  WebHelp and FlashHelp output in RoboHelp supports keyword search, which means a user query is broken into individual words and then each word is looked up in the project content. Breaking a search query into individual words is not easy for Chinese/Japanese/Korean languages because these languages do not clearly mark word boundaries. In RoboHelp 10, the search functionality with WebHelp, FlashHelp, AIRHelp, and browser-based AIRHelp output is enhanced to recognize CJK content in search queries so that the results you get are more useful.

  For more information, see RoboHelp output search.

Sample applications with layouts configured for multichannel publishing

RoboHelp 10 installation comes with three sample projects, Global Site Consult, Salesbuilder, and EmployeeCare. Check out these projects to understand how you can create RoboHelp projects for different uses, for example to maintain a knowledgebase. The layouts are set up for you to generate different types of output. Read the About Adobe RoboHelp 10 topic for an outline of the new features of RoboHelp 10.

Open linked topics in new tabs with Ctrl + click

You can now use Ctrl + click to open a linked topic in another tab in Design Editor. This eliminates the need to find the linked topic in Project Manager or Topic List, and will save you some clicks to get to the topic.

Clear Formatting and Reset Styles options

The new Clear Formatting icon in the Format toolbar lets you remove all inline and CSS styles from a selection. You also have the Reset Style option in the Style And Formatting pod to remove all formatting applied to a selection through a style by simply selecting the style category. See Clear formatting and Reset styles.

Workspace enhancements

In RoboHelp 10, you’ll find some key workspace enhancements to give you flexibility and speed:

Easy access to learning resources from the Starter pod

The Starter pod displays a stream of latest learning resources for quick access. Use these resources to learn and use RoboHelp.

Note: If you find this stream distracting, you can configure RoboHelp settings to not display this information. See Configure general settings.

Easy access to adding or editing search metadata

RoboHelp comes with a new option, Search Metadata, in the Edit menu to help you get quick access to the options to configure synonyms, topic keywords, and Stop Words —the three elements that constitute search metadata. With this new UI, you will be able to configure search metadata holistically. See Add search metadata.

Easy access to editing the LNG file

Select Edit > LNG File to quickly access the contents in the LNG file and modify them accordingto your requirements. The LNG file contains text elements in the user interface for Multiscreen HTML5, WebHelp, WebHelp Pro, FlashHelp, FlashHelp Pro, AIR Help, Printed Documentation, or Microsoft HTML Help output. See Change project settings.

Support for events in scripting

In RoboHelp 9, a script must be invoked manually; it can’t run automatically when an event occurs. RoboHelp 10 lets you run functions defined in scripts at specific events. For example, you can automate the function to create a backup of a project whenever the project is saved. See Event support in scripting.