[OffT] Help files

Does anyone know anything about windows help files?

I've got a (bought in) application, with an "incomplete" help file,
and I want to add sections to it that are site specific...

Is there a free way to do this?

 

Don't know if you can decompile the help file and it
depends what type it is - Windows .hlp or their
later HTML equivalent .mht, but there are certainly file
compilers as part of the resource kits.

IIRC, the old .hlp files were compiled from RTF files
with suitably placed text in them for markers, not
unlike HTML. The newer ones are obviously HTML based
and should be easier to create.

Try:
HLP
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=microsoft+help+compiler

HTML
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/htmlhelp/html/vsconwhtsdll.asp

 

William,

What is the format of the help file -- WinHelp (.hlp) or HTML Help
(.chm)? If WinHelp, you can decompile the .hlp file using Help
Decompiler, which is available from:

http://www.helpmaster.com/hlp-developmentaids-helpdeco.htm

Once you've modified the source .rtf files, you can recompile the help
file using Help Workshop, available from:

http://www.helpmaster.com/hlp-developmentaids-hcw403.htm

If HTML Help, you can both decompile and recompile the .chm file using
HTML Help Workshop, available from:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/htmlhelp/html/hwMicrosoftHTMLHelpDownloads.asp

However, I'd recommend performing the decompile half of the operation
with KeyTools, as that will re-create the project (.hhp) file that
you'll need in order to recompile later. Decompiling with HTML Help
Workshop will give you everything *except* the .hhp file.

http://www.keyworks.net/keytools.htm

All that said, there's a drawback to WinHelp/HTML Help decompilation
that may make you want to proceed with caution: the
decompile/recompile process isn't a "round-trip" process; not
everything that the help author put into the original file is
recoverable when you decompile, so some features may stop working.
This would particularly be the case if the help file is set up to
provide context-sensitive help for the application, but other features
such as the index may no longer work. At the least, it's best to make
a backup copy of the original help file before you tinker with it.

 

Thanks Pete- very useful site.

 

Cheers, useful to know...

 

Again, useful stuff. Cheers.