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sschnelbach
sschnelbach
Level 5
September 17, 2026
Question

HTML5 Default Output - No Longer Works?

  • September 17, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 43 views

Previous, I had been able to generate an HTML5 output using the default DITA-OT template that Guides comes with. The result had been a folder of HTML, SVG, and PNG files.

In the current version of Guides (5.1), the HTML5 output no longer generates anything except the primary index file with links to nothing. I have tried to generate an HTML5 output using both the Map Console and the Map Dashboard and both result in the same thing: two css files and one index.html file with links to nothing.

What am I doing wrong? The default DITO-OT file in CRDXE hasn’t been changed, moved, or touched.

    3 replies

    AmitVishwakarma
    Community Advisor
    AmitVishwakarmaCommunity Advisor
    Community Advisor
    September 18, 2026

    Hi ​@sschnelbach 

    The default DITA-OT template is probably not the issue. In recent AEM Guides releases, generate.copy.outer is no longer added automatically. If the map references topics or media outside the root map directory, add the following to the HTML5 preset under DITA-OT command line arguments: -Dgenerate.copy.outer=3

    Save the preset and regenerate the complete map. This instructs DITA-OT to include content located outside the map directory. Also enable Retain temporary files and check the DITA-OT log if the output still contains only index.html and CSS. Validate the map report for missing topics, images, cross-references, empty href values, and external links missing scope="external".

     

    Amit Vishwakarma - Adobe Commerce Champion 2025 | 17x Adobe certified | 6x Adobe SME
      sschnelbach
      sschnelbachAuthor
      Level 5
      September 21, 2026

      All this did was add the two images to the downloaded ZIP file, but the dita topics are still not included, nor is the map.

      AmitVishwakarma
      Community Advisor
      AmitVishwakarmaCommunity Advisor
      Community Advisor
      September 21, 2026

      Hi ​@sschnelbach 

      Thanks for confirming. This result is expected for -Dgenerate.copy.outer=3. The parameter only copies referenced content—such as images—that is located outside the root DITA map directory. It does not package the source .dita topics or the .ditamap into the HTML5 output ZIP.

      The HTML5 preset is intended to generate HTML output, not to create a source-content package. If you need the original DITA map along with its referenced topics, submaps, images, and other dependencies, please use Map Editor/Map Dashboard ->Options -> Download Map instead. This generates a ZIP containing the map and its dependents:

      https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/experience-manager-guides/using/user-guide/author-content/map-editor/authoring-download-assets

      If you are expecting generated HTML topic pages such as topic1.html and topic2.html in the HTML5 ZIP and those files are also missing, that is a separate publishing issue. In that case, please check the DITA Map Report and the HTML5 output log for missing topic references, invalid href values, filtering, or DITA-OT processing errors.

      The generate.copy.outer argument is only applicable when HTML5 content references files outside the map directory:

      https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/experience-manager-guides/using/user-guide/map-management-publishing/output-gen/output-presets-aemg/generate-output-html5

      Amit Vishwakarma - Adobe Commerce Champion 2025 | 17x Adobe certified | 6x Adobe SME
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