Auto-open multiple projects?

[Metamonomous]

My projects are scattered around the directory tree and it takes a long time to open them. Is there a way to open multiple projects at once automatically, perhaps with a script?

[Tim Green]

This is already available as a feature in Help+Manual. You just need to define the projects you want to open as a workspace:

https://helpandmanual.com/help/hm_qs_workspaces.html

In addition to this you can also configure Help+Manual to automatically open all the projects you were working on in the last session the next time you start it. This setting is in View > Program Options > General: Open last project(s) on start.

[Metamonomous]

Ah, just didn't know to search the help for "workspace." This is great, thank you!

[John Johann]

Is it possible to have the workspace function open the projects in multiple H&M instances?
I often have multiple language variants with large TOC open for updating changes and being able to edit side-by-side is great.

[Tim Green]

Is it possible to have the workspace function open the projects in multiple H&M instances?
I often have multiple language variants with large TOC open for updating changes and being able to edit side-by-side is great.

No, this isn't supported directly. Just create two workspaces and open one in each instance of Help+Manual.

[John Johann]

Thanks Tim. Happy New Year.
Could you put it on the wish list please?
My current workaround is to open 6 separate instances of H&M and then click on a pinned project name (which was also why I'd like them to not rotate according to the last used ).
I can also open them all with a batch file, but a workspace with the window size (and monitor) would be cool.

[Tim Green]

Thanks Tim. Happy New Year.
Could you put it on the wish list please?

Happy New Year to you too! I've added it to the request list, although I can't promise if and when, of course...

[Alexander Halser]

Hello John,

I suggest to create a simple batch file that starts multiple instances of H&M, one for every project.

[John Johann]

Hi Alexander,
Thanks -- that's exactly what I've now done.
Are there switches to set the window size, position and display to show on?

[Alexander Halser]

Are there switches to set the window size, position and display to show on?

No, there is not.

You need a dedicated application launcher to accomplish this.
Such as
https://ritchielawrence.github.io/cmdow/

[John Johann]

Hi,
I was revisiting my batch file to start multiple instances.
Currently it opens, e.g., 4 HnM projects directly --

Code: Select all

start "C:\Program Files (x86)\EC Software\HelpAndManual8\HELPMAN.EXE" "Path\Filename.hmxp"

That means that if the projects are large (3000+ topics), and the TOC has to be expanded according to the topic, there is sometimes a hiccup and not all projects are opened. It also means that I don't always get the same topic.

I noticed in the workspaces that I can set the topic to open (bookmark) and additional topic tabs.
I created a workspace for each of the 4 projects and set the bookmark to a top level topic so that the TOC would not be expanded.
I then adjusted the batch file to

Code: Select all

start "C:\Program Files (x86)\EC Software\HelpAndManual8\HELPMAN.EXE" "Path\Filename.hmws"

However, that only opens 4 instances of HnM -- not the projects.

If I start HnM and select Workspaces > Path\Filename.hmws, the project is launched but the Project Explorer lists my project at the top and a second project with the name of the workspace beneath.
Double-clicking on the *.hmws in the Explorer also only starts HnM, but doesn't open the project.