How do i get integrated help

Ian · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 69

Hi

I have written a VB6 application that I would like to include "What's this
help" and standard F1 help. The F1 help should load up HTML help files. And
the "?" help should just bring up a brief description of things.

My question is how do I build the HTML help file. And then how do I
integrate it into my application.

I have seen this done using API once but I don't remember how it was done.

Thanks,

Ian

Archived from group: microsoft>public>vb>enterprise

vlad · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 7

Actually you don't need any API.
Every form and most of controls in VB has property HelpContextID.
The VB project has property 'Help File Name'.
You can use HTML Help Workshop (must be a part of Visual Studio)
to compile help files from the set of HTMP pages.

Do not forget to include *.c header file into the help project. Its format
is

#define ALIAS key

where alias is used to indicate a bookmark in HTML,
and the key is a number which you set to the HelpContextID property.
And in the help project you map aliases to the bookmarks.

Anyway, read helps to the HTML Help Workshop.

buy,
vlad.

"Ian" wrote: @tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi
>
> I have written a VB6 application that I would like to include "What's this
> help" and standard F1 help. The F1 help should load up HTML help files.
And
> the "?" help should just bring up a brief description of things.
>
> My question is how do I build the HTML help file. And then how do I
> integrate it into my application.
>
> I have seen this done using API once but I don't remember how it was done.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ian

Ian · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 69

How does VB know the differenc between "What's is this" help and F1 Help?

"vlad" wrote in message$1im5$1@pandora.alkar.net...
> Actually you don't need any API.
> Every form and most of controls in VB has property HelpContextID.
> The VB project has property 'Help File Name'.
> You can use HTML Help Workshop (must be a part of Visual Studio)
> to compile help files from the set of HTMP pages.
>
> Do not forget to include *.c header file into the help project. Its format
> is
>
> #define ALIAS key
>
> where alias is used to indicate a bookmark in HTML,
> and the key is a number which you set to the HelpContextID property.
> And in the help project you map aliases to the bookmarks.
>
> Anyway, read helps to the HTML Help Workshop.
>
> buy,
> vlad.
>
> "Ian" wrote:@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Hi
> >
> > I have written a VB6 application that I would like to include "What's
this
> > help" and standard F1 help. The F1 help should load up HTML help files.
> And
> > the "?" help should just bring up a brief description of things.
> >
> > My question is how do I build the HTML help file. And then how do I
> > integrate it into my application.
> >
> > I have seen this done using API once but I don't remember how it was
done.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Ian
>
>
>
>

MikeD · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 3348

"Ian" wrote in message@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> How does VB know the differenc between "What's is this" help and F1 Help?

You have to write that in your help file (via context IDs), and then specify
the appropriate context ID's for your controls. It sounds to me like you
really need to consult VB's documentation a bit more. It covers most of
this. What it doesn't cover is actually writing the help file. You need to
consult HTML Help's documentation for that. IOW, consult Help on how to
write Help.

Take a look at the following:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/vbcon98/html/vbconAddingHelpToYourApplication.asp

Mike

Ian · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 69

Thanks Mike

"MikeD" wrote in message@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>
> "Ian" wrote in message
> @TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > How does VB know the differenc between "What's is this" help and F1
Help?
>
>
> You have to write that in your help file (via context IDs), and then
specify
> the appropriate context ID's for your controls. It sounds to me like you
> really need to consult VB's documentation a bit more. It covers most of
> this. What it doesn't cover is actually writing the help file. You need
to
> consult HTML Help's documentation for that. IOW, consult Help on how to
> write Help.
>
> Take a look at the following:
>
>
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/vbcon98/html/vbconAddingHelpToYourApplication.asp
>
> Mike
>
>

Tom Esh · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 416

On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 12:35:09 +0100, "Ian" wrote:

>How does VB know the differenc between "What's is this" help and F1 Help?

It doesn't. The only difference is in how the help topic is
~displayed~. It's merely a difference in the args passed to the
WinHelp Api behind the scenes which in this case determine whether the
topic is shown in a popup window or in a normal "framed" window.

-Tom
MVP - Visual Basic
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