PP 3 publishing error message

[Wolfgang Baer]

Hi,

I just tried to publish an EWriter eBook for Windows using the new V3 PremiumPack responsive skins.

Publishing fails with the message:

<%TABLE_OF_CONTENTS%> variable missing in Content template!

Publishing to WebHelp using those skins works though.

Publishing to CHM using the chm skins works as well.

Do I understand the manual right, that the V3 responsive skins are generally valid for EWriter publishing?
If yes, where should I start to search for the cause of the error message?

Many thanks for help.

H&M 7.0.8 3780
PPack 3.0.2


EDIT:
as a cross check I took the published WebHelp and converted it into an eBook for Windows using the stand alone eWriter tool. This way it works.

[Tim Green]

Hi Wolfgang,

This is normal. The Premium Pack 3 responsive skins are WebHelp only. You cannot use them for EWriter or CHM. They currently don't have a built-in warning for this, it is something you need to know. You can't use them for these other formats because these skins use a new Webhelp output scheme we refer to as WebHelp 3, with a completely different structure that cannot be used for any other output type. If you look in the output folder you will also see that the output is different, with multiple sub-folders and JSON versions of all the topics and popups in JavaScript files.

You can use the WebHelp/EWriter skins for EWriter output. They are specifically optimized for that.

[Wolfgang Baer]

Ok,
I understand that. But what about the stand alone EC Software eWriter tool then?
I downloaded it from http://download.ec-software.com/ewriter-setup.exe
As a test I published a project as WebHelp with a new 3.0.2 responsive skin.
I then used the eWriter tool to convert it into a self contained Windows exe file.
The result looks and works the same like the WebHelp in a web browser.
I also tried a conversion to chm, but that does not give a good result.

Do you think this is a valid way of creating eBooks with the new skins?

[Tim Green]

Hi Wolfgang,

As a test I published a project as WebHelp with a new 3.0.2 responsive skin. I then used the eWriter tool to convert it into a self contained Windows exe file. The result looks and works the same like the WebHelp in a web browser.

If it works, it works, but I really can't provide any guarantees. The responsive skins haven't been tested for that at all, so it is at your own risk. Also, the technologies implemented in WebHelp 3 for the responsive skins are all geared to accessing WebHelp on the Web with a wide variety of different devices. EWriter eBooks are only displayed on Windows computers in a known environment, so most of the solutions in WebHelp 3 are redundant there. Generally, I would recommend using the V2 WebHelp/EWriter skins for EWriter eBooks.

I also tried a conversion to chm, but that does not give a good result.

No, because much of what is needed for CHM is missing from the responsive skins and the scripts in the pages will be expecting to find things that are not there. The result will be a little like filling diesel oil mixed with sugar into the tank of a car that requires super gasoline...

[Wolfgang Baer]

Ok,
thanks for the explanation.