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Toucan help files missing?

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January 26, 2010 - 1:54pm
#1
MKG
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Toucan help files missing?

Hello everyone,

Trying to learn about Toucan (2.2.1) and all its features I was gonna have a look into the program's help page as mentioned in the forum.

But: The help page in the program is just empty. There's the list window, the search field and the field where the selected help topic would be shown, but they are all empty (i.e. not a single help topic neither in Contents nor Index).

Trying to track the problem down, I had a look into Toucan's program folder and it turns out that the PortableApps\Toucan\App\Toucan\help folder is just plain empty (safe for an "images" folder with five small icons/images in it), no help file anywhere.

I also unpacked the installer .paf.exe and searched for a help file there, but same result: nothing.

Does anyone have an idea where I could get that help file/s from?

Cheers,
MKG

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January 26, 2010 - 3:43pm
J Neutron
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Internal

I believe you'll find that the help is internal to the actual executable file. There is no external help file anymore (used to be, way back when...)

Click on Toucan's "Help" tab, click on the "contents" or "index" heading, and you'll see all of the help that currently exists.

If you don't see that, then you may have a bum download or installation. I'd recommend re-downloading version 2.2.1 and re-installing it.

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 27, 2010 - 9:16am
(Reply to #2)
MKG
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Still empty help page

Thanks for you advice!
I've followed your suggestions, but even after redownloading and reinstalling (not just updating, but deleting the old installation first and then starting fresh), the help page is still empty (as in, contents or index tabs are just white list windows with nothing in them).
Later today I can try on a computer running Windows 7 (tried on WinXP SP3 so far).
In case that fails as well, I've downloaded the pdf manual which I found in the sourceforge file listing under Toucan Development Test 3.0. It looks like it's as comprehensive a help as I could possibly need Smile
Thanks again for your help!
Cheers,
MKG

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January 27, 2010 - 9:58am
(Reply to #3)
J Neutron
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Same OS

I'm also running WinXP SP3 here and have no problems with the help system, so I don't think that the problem is there.

I don't know the inner workings of Toucan. Maybe Steve can comment on possible troubleshooting steps.

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 27, 2010 - 11:41am
(Reply to #4)
MKG
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Help from older version?

Could it be that you've had installed older versions where the help was still included, then updated with newer versions (which might not contain the help by accident), leaving the help files intact? But then you said the help was included in the exe. That would actually rule this out.

Regarding that last bit: I've had a look into the Toucan Development Test 3.0. There was a toucan.htb file in the \App\Toucan\help folder. I could decompress that file to a number of html documents and images and it looks like this could be the help that I'm missing. Even though I decompressed them into the same folder, Toucan still wouldn't display me any help in the help tab.

It just seems really odd to me that I'm experiencing this. I haven't installed it in any strange way (can't even think of a "strange" way to install software), but haven't read about anyone else with the same problem in the forums. :-S

Sorry to keep troubling you with this issue!

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January 27, 2010 - 12:20pm
(Reply to #5)
J Neutron
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Upgrading

I've been using Toucan for quite some time, and have experienced interesting beta issues along the way (especially in the beginning).

Because of that my habit has been to install the new version to a different directory and then copy the contents of the old \Data folder (all the ini files) to the new version. Once I have confidence in the new version, I delete the old version.

From what I understand, the 3.0 Test version is a re-write. I'm letting others experience the joys of that process and I'm sticking with 2.21 since it works for all of my current needs.

BTW, the help system is totally different from 2.21 to 3.0. I think that's because an offline manual was requested by someone who thought they needed to read the manual BEFORE deciding to download the software.

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 27, 2010 - 2:13pm
(Reply to #6)
MKG
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Occam's Razor

In that case I guess I'll just stick with the pdf I've found. It gives me the information I need and I don't have to keep you from attending more urgent problems Smile

Still odd though, isn't it?! Smile

Thanks again,
take care!

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January 27, 2010 - 4:26pm
(Reply to #7)
J Neutron
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Odd yes... Even no

Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.

Maybe Steve will show up and give us a hand?

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 27, 2010 - 5:02pm
(Reply to #8)
Steve Lamerton
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Sorry

for the delay! As you noted the help file is called toucan.htb and it should be in the app directory, is it there?

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January 29, 2010 - 8:21am
(Reply to #9)
MKG
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Only in development version

I did find a toucan.htb file, but only in the Development Test 3.0 I downloaded. In the 2.2.1 version (it says built on Dec 5 2009 at 22:17:22), the help folder is empty (apart from another folder with some icons).

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January 29, 2010 - 10:41am
(Reply to #10)
J Neutron
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Not there

Not in the \help folder.

Go UP one level, into the \Toucan folder. That's where it should be.

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 29, 2010 - 11:49am
(Reply to #11)
MKG
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There it is

Didn't look there before. It's in the \Toucan\App\Toucan folder. So it does exist. Do you have any idea why it doesn't display on the program's help page?

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January 29, 2010 - 5:02pm
(Reply to #12)
J Neutron
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Circular?

Haven't we been here before?

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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January 30, 2010 - 5:16am
(Reply to #13)
Steve Lamerton
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Did

you try it on Windows 7 in the end? I would be intrigued to hear if it was a pc problem or something wrong with your copy!

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January 31, 2010 - 6:21pm
(Reply to #14)
MKG
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Not quite a circle

It's not quite been a circle. I've only now noticed that the .htb file is present in the app\toucan folder of version 2.2.1. Before I only saw it in the 3.0 Development test version.

The help in the program still doesn't show. There is no difference on different computers. I'm sitting in front of Win7 now, even reinstalled Toucan here (who knows, maybe the fault was in the installation). Still no help.

But as I said before, guys, I'm happy with the pdf I've found. It might not be as comfortable as an in-program help, but if I'm really the only one with this issue, then there just is no point in you wasting your time here on this! Smile

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