General Runtime Issues

The issues listed here are general to all Pikauba Software products. If you don't see the issue you're facing, check the ASPHelp, SQLHelp or DBDocumentor sections. Most issues related to DBDocumentor will be found under the SQLHelp section. If after checking these sections, you still don't find a resolution, please drop us an email, with as many details as possible.

When I start the program, it says I'm missing a required DLL, but I ran the setup program.
No output file is generated, but I didn't see an error
Why do I need Internet Explorer?
I get a configuration error referring to Microsoft's HTML Help Compiler. Where can I get it?
Not all my files are processed. Why?
How can I stop the licensing agreement from coming up every time I use the product?
I'm using Windows 2000 (or higher) and it comes with the HTML Help compiler. Why doesn't your product detect this properly?
When viewing the output from DBDocumentor, ASPHelp, or SQLHelp I don't see my content. How do I resolve this?
After I downloaded a CHM from your site, I don't see any content. Can you send me the file?

When I start the program, it says I'm missing a required DLL, but I ran the setup program.

This is a pretty rare error, but one faced by users of older systems. Essentially, it is saying that your system is missing some component that Pikauba Software was unable to supply as part of the installation package. Normally, this is a case of the component being part of a much larger package that Microsoft prefers to not be broken up. Thus far we have only come across three situations where this is the case.

You are lacking Internet Explorer. The HTML Help system is based upon components of Internet Explorer. So even if you don't use Internet Explorer for you daily Internet access, you need to have it installed on your machine. This can be downloaded at http://microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm
You are using a very old version of the MDAC components. We require at least version 2.1 of MDAC and ADO. Normally this is installed with Internet Explorer, but if you wish to get MDAC separately, you can get more information at http://www.microsoft.com/data/whatcom.htm
You are using a very old version of the Windows Script Host. These components are installed by our setup program, but make use of other system components. The latest version of the Windows Script Host can be found at http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/

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No output is generated, but I didn't see an error

If no error box was displayed indicating the absence of the HTML Help compiler, then there are two known causes.

The output device has insufficient room for the compiled output. In other words, your disk is close to being, or is full.
You de-selected the "Launch Compiled Help" check box. In this case the help file was probably created, but wasn't launched. To locate the help file, simply navigate to the output folder you specified, and launch the output file you specified.
You specified an output file name extension that is not .chm. The HTML Help viewer expects .chm for its filename extensions.
Your system is missing the HTML Help viewer. To test this, attempt to launch the documentation for you product. This is normally installed at "Start Menu->Program Name (e.g. ASPHelp).

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Why do I need Internet Explorer?

Internet Explorer is required on any system intended to view the compiled output. Under certain circumstances, it may also be required to compile the output. You need not use Internet Explorer for your default browser, it only needs to be installed.

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I get a configuration error referring to Microsoft's HTML Help compiler. Where do I get it?

Pikauba Software uses Microsoft's HTML Help workshop compiler to generate the final output.

It can be obtained from one of two sources. First when you start ASPHelp, DBDocumentor, or SQLHelp the application will perform a test of your system. If the HTML Help workshop is missing, pressing the locate button will either take you to the Pikauba web site where you can download it from Microsoft, or will take you directly to the Microsoft download page.

It can also be obtained for free at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/tools/htmlhelp/chm/hh1start.htm

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Not all my files are processed. Why?

If you are running in shareware mode (i.e. not registered), each product has a limitation on the number of files you can process. This number was chosen to give a fair evaluation of the software while still leaving an encouragement for users to register. Registration is simple and cost effective.

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How can I stop the licensing agreement from coming up every time I use the product?

The licensing agreement is intended to remind users that they are using an unregistered shareware product. It will be shown once per day until registered. Registration is simple and cost effective.

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I'm using Windows 2000 (or higher) and it comes with the HTML Help compiler. Why doesn't your product detect this properly?

While it is true that Windows 2000 and higher has the HTML Help compiler installed, that is only part of the Pikauba requirements. Specifically, the compilation process makes use of the HTML Help workshop to perform the bulk of the compilation. Downloading and installing the HTML Help workshop is a simple process.

Note: During installation of the HTML Help workshop on Windows 2000 and higher systems, you may receive a message indicating that the version of the compiler on your system is newer than that in the workshop. It is safe to accept this warning, as the version on your system will be untouched.

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When viewing the output from DBDocumentor, ASPHelp, or SQLHelp I don't see my content. How do I resolve this?

If you are accessing the output from a network share, mapped drive, or substituted drive, then you are probably running into a Microsoft security block. The general manifestation of the problem is a properly formed table of contents, but every entry results in either a "The page can not be displayed" or "Action cancelled" error message in the content pane. This problem is the result of some changes Microsoft made to the protocol used to access individual topics within the CHM. The specific security update is 896358.

The following Microsoft TechNote (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054/) describes the scenario in detail, along with several options for working around the problem. The recommended solution is to use the workaround from Example #1, where you have the CHM placed in a known, fixed, network location. The registry changes for whichever workaround you choose will be required to be made on all machines which are expected to access the CHM. This problem is one reason why DBDocumentor 4.00 was enhanced to offer an HTML output option.

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After I downloaded a CHM from your site, I don't see any content. Can you send me the file?

Recently, Microsoft made another change in the way it processes CHM content. In this scenario, any CHM content obtained from a non-local machine (i.e. not installed as part of an product, or created locally), will be untrusted. Untrusted in this context means that when you open the CHM, you see a properly formed table of contents, but every entry results in either a "The page can not be displayed" or "Action cancelled" error message in the content pane. The specific security update is 902225.

The following Microsoft TechNote (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;902225) describes the scenario in detail, along with several options for working around the problem.