[RESOLVED] .HLP File

[billboy]

Can someone explain using a .hlp file in a vb.net program. I have been googling and reading adn from i can tell chm is the new "Help file way to go. and u can use the helpprovider control

However I already created a very simple which is all I need for my purposes .hlp file using shalom which I learned about from other post on this forum

I am doing the following in my menuitems "Help file click event:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("C:\Documents and Settings\name of .hlp file.hlp)

This works great, I just dont understand how this will work when I compile and deploy the project??

Couldnt or shouldnt the file be referenced within my project?

Thanks for your time and patience in advance, i am still VERY new and learning

[gonzalioz]

Hi,

I would add the help file to my project:
1. Right click on your project in the solution explorer.
2. Click on Add -> Existing Item
3. Browse for your file and click add.

You will now see your file in the solution explorer.

1. Right click on it and click on properties.
2. Set build action to 'content'.
3. Set copy to output directory to 'copy if newer'.

The file now always be in the directory your app runs from so now you can just call the item like this:

Process.Start("filename.chm").

Hope that helps!

[si_the_geek]

Don't use .hlp files - they were quickly going out of date when VB6 was released in 1998 (and VB6's help said not to use them), and are no longer supported.

In order for users of Windows Vista and later to use them, they will need to install a program from Microsoft (which you are not allowed to distribute).

[billboy]

Hi,

I would add the help file to my project:
1. Right click on your project in the solution explorer.
2. Click on Add -> Existing Item
3. Browse for your file and click add.

You will now see your file in the solution explorer.

1. Right click on it and click on properties.
2. Set build action to 'content'.
3. Set copy to output directory to 'copy if newer'.

The file now always be in the directory your app runs from so now you can just call the item like this:

Process.Start("filename.chm").

Hope that helps!

Yes thank you that helped ALOT. I didnt understand how to reference the file after i added to the project.

[billboy]

Don't use .hlp files - they were quickly going out of date when VB6 was released in 1998 (and VB6's help said not to use them), and are no longer supported.

In order for users of Windows Vista and later to use them, they will need to install a program from Microsoft (which you are not allowed to distribute).

Thanks thats what all my reading has lead me, Do you know of a good (free) program to write .chm file?
Shalom was nice because it was very easy to use

[Zeljko]

HTML Help Workshop - free, Microsoft, and easy

...reading about HTML Help Workshop

[billboy]

Thanks Everyone