compile changes the name of the topic file

[AagardUser]

We add a topic to the tree that has a topic ID of: co6.1
We have an associated video that is matched with the topic file name - so the video file is also named: co6.1
When we compile, the compiler seems to change the topic file name to "co6_1.html"
This file name change using the underscore causes the association to fail and therefore the topic does not match up with our video file.
Is there a way to turn this off so that the compiler doesn't change the name of the topic. We don't want the period to be replaced with the underscore.

Thanks

[Tim Green]

Hi Aagard,

This simply means that you created a copy of the topic at some point. To prevent an ID conflict, HM had to give the copy a new name, by adding a consecutive number after the original name, with an underscore to make it clear. If you look in Project Files > Topic Files you should be able to locate both copies (unless the original has been deleted in the meantime). You can then choose which one you want to keep and delete the other one. After doing that, if necessary, you can change the topic ID of the remaining topic in the Topic Options tab of the editor window. You should also check whether the link is pointing to that version, as it may not be if it was pointing to the now deleted topic.

[AagardUser]

This is not correct that the topic is a copy. If that was indeed the case, the topic ID would be "xxxxx_2"
What is happening is that the topic name is being changed by the compile process.
The topic name is: co6.1
After compiling, the file name is listed as: co6_1

The compile process is changing the name.

[AagardUser]

We are using

VERSION: 9.7.1 (Build 6901)
SKIN: HM9_ppV5_MinimalModern_SamuraiRed_WebHelp.hmskin

[Tim Green]

Sorry, I just realized what's happening: Help+Manual is changing the topic ID here because your ID is invalid as an HTML filename. It would create a file called co6.1.html, which would cause errors in many browsers. That is why HM is changing it. You need to change the ID to one that does not include a dot. You can have the dot in the topic title and in the TOC caption, but not in the ID.

For maximum compatibility with both HTML and general filename rules, only use a..z, 0..9, _ and - in topic IDs. No spaces, special characters, accented characters or non-alphanumeric characters. Also don't start an ID with a number and don't end it with _ or -.

[AagardUser]

ok, I understand that
Thank you!