HTML Help workshop tricks from myself

after many year experience and struggles with HTML help workshop(HHW), finally I sit down and took notes to get thorough understanding of this tool.

in one statement: what is the internal logic structure of HHW to generate a .CHM file? Project options file/configuration file maps TOC table to HTML help Window by configuring project file (.hhp).

TOC file is a table to organize single pages(i.e., topics) and headings.

Help Window type defines how CHM file looks like: top menu, tool menu buttons, navigation bar etc.

CHM file is the result of mapping TOC file to help window. the project option configuration files define the mapping logic.

on Project tab, the left side, the top three buttons: change project option, add/remove topic, add/modify window type. all contain default page definitions. they all shall point to the right file at the right location. otherwise compilation will produce error. some online notes say it is the bug of Microsoft, but I think it may not be the case.

final note: all content files, images, css file shall be added into project options/ file section. all related files can be reviewed in project tab.

1. Don Lammers' HTML Help API Tutorials
2. Mapping Context Integers

two good HTML help workshop links

two good HTML help workshop links. they contain all things I need at this time

1. Starting with HTML Help

after I search google, I find this link.

2. HTML Help: Information
3. Connecting Help to Your Programs:: MFC link
4. How do you integrate help files into your application?

this link contains all articles related with .NET, C++.

5. HTML Help:: very good examples
6. HTML Help MFC Sample
7. On Help Systems In General
8. HTML Help Tips 'n Tricks
9. HTML Help Tutorials

Char James-Tanny's HTML Help Workshop Tutorial section is very good one Updated February, 2003

Mapping Context Integers section is good one too, Updated March 1, 2003

10. FAR HTML 5

this link has other 4 products and will check them back later if needed..

11. FAR HTML 5 -- Web Help
12. FAR HTML 5--Release Notes
13. .NET Application Help
14. Helpware Knowledge base / Wiki

using WinHelp on Windows 10

used long time ago, now I need to test winhelp function in Visual Studio 2017 by using Visual C++.

1. About WinHelp
2. WinHelp: Must Have

the above two links solve all my problems. download Help Workshop Compiler link.

after I downloaded this zip file, I run this program and it start to install it under C:\program files folder.

I run help workshop app and it starts up with directing to an error page to microsoft, but the app still shows up.

after play around with it, I check tenouk's tutorial, a very good introduction.

I need to set up environment variable for path. so it is easier to run command line.

3. Winhlp32.exe - Windows 10
4. Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 8.1
5. Getting Winhlp32 work on Windows 10

this post contains good stuff. follow steps to make the script and it is working too.

6. all kinds of WinHelp version download
7. Winhlp32 for Windows 10
8. Windows Help Program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 x64 and x86
9. Winhlp32.exe - Windows 10
10. WinHelp