help file

**phara0h** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 07:52 PM

Hello,
I don't know how much VB related this is, but let's say i made a program and want to help a help file. I want to create something that comes with programs like mIRC or so. Like when you click on help, it brings up something which displays contents and search...etc. Is there a component or something like that in vb? or what program can i use to making a hlp file?

Thanks..
!phara0h

**vbmom** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:09 PM

I've always used HelpWriter from Teltech Applications. I'm begging for RoboHelp from eHelp at the office. Go to their websites and check it out. You can request or download trial software.

I know it's possible to write help using stuff you get with VB 6.0. These programs make it really easy though.

**MartinLiss** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:12 PM

You can write help files using just Word, but it's very tedious.

**phara0h** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:18 PM

Martin do you know if there's a site somewhere that has a tutorial or something? Also i checked microsoft help to think maybe they would have a document or something, but there's nothing in their help file about it

**MartinLiss** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:49 PM

Try looking for Help, creating custom or Microsoft Help Compiler.

I also may have some old documentation someplace. If I find it I'll let you know.

**phara0h** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:51 PM

sweeetttt...hey thankx alot

... if anything comes up i'll post it.

**Nucleus** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:52 PM

chm is the new professional help file standard, and they are really easy to make, just write each page in word and export as HTML. From there then using HTML Help Workshop import each page, compile and you are done.

Get the program and detailed instructions here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...pDownloads.asp

**phara0h** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:55 PM

Nucleus i can't get that because i'm using win 2k...

this is on the site.
"The 1.32 version of Hhupd.exe is available for the Intel platform only, and will work in all supported languages. Windows 2000 users should not run Hhupd.exe. "

**vbmom** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 08:58 PM

It's worth the effort and the bucks to go buy a help writer. Ask around.

**phara0h** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 09:01 PM

i dl'ed helpwriter...but didn't like it too much, i'm getting installing robohelp right now..just finished dl'ing

**Nucleus** · Feb 22nd, 2002, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by phara0h
Nucleus i can't get that because i'm using win 2k...

this is on the site.
"The 1.32 version of Hhupd.exe is available for the Intel platform only, and will work in all supported languages. Windows 2000 users should not run Hhupd.exe. "

It says to see the notes, which say:
Windows 2000 users should not run Hhupd.exe. This is because Windows 2000 ships with a version of HTML Help that does not require an update. There are no plans to add any new features to HTML Help. Any urgent updates will be handled by means of Windows 2000 service packs or Windows Update. For more information about updating Windows 2000, visit the Windows 2000 Home Page, and Microsoft Windows Update.

If you can't locate HTML help download, just download:
Download Htmlhelp.exe (4.0 MB)

And away you go. Chm files are the new professional standard, so I would persist with it.

**phara0h** · Feb 23rd, 2002, 09:20 PM

ok, Nucleus i'll check it out and see what happens. Thankx alot by the way.

**karolmcauley** · Feb 24th, 2002, 04:52 AM

as nucleus pointed out .chm is probably the easiest to use and it is fast becoming the standard (other than winhelp). I have just begun learning the html help from microsoft and it is very easy to use and understand and u can develop html pages in any web program (dreamweaver, frontpage) attach a context id to that page.......and then u can call any html help page from within vb....it is very simple.

If u are looking to follow this give us a shout and i will explain more about how to link into vb....so that u can display particualr help files for particular forms in vb

cheers

**seema** · Feb 24th, 2002, 05:17 AM

hi
check out this link...www.geocities.com/akashelkar/help/index.html

**phara0h** · Feb 24th, 2002, 02:04 PM

karolmcauley i am very much intrested in the chm if that's the best way to do it and it's becomming very popular. Last night i opened up the file from microsoft and found out that it is necessary to make html pages, so i was going to use dreamweaver, but i know i'll have a problem linking it up etc. My e-mail is [email protected], if you could either put a post to help me out more, or just e-mail i would appericiate it. Thank you again.

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