CompuServe Messages

Doug, No matter what development tool you're using, the process of calling a custom help file is fairly similar. Your applications responds to a user request for Help (clicking a Help button, pressing F1, or whatever) by calling WinHelp and instructing it to open a specific compiled Help file. In addition, your app will generally include a context string in its call to Help. A context string is just a marker within the Help file that tells WinHelp how to locate the page that you want to view in the Help file. It is possible to create a Help file using just the standard Windows Help compiler and an RTF (rich text format) file into which you've manually inserted all the context strings and other data that the Help compiler needs, but it's about as easy as building a bridge from New York to London using popsicle sticks. To create Help files efficiently and without tearing out all your hair, you need a good Help file authoring tool. Once again, I would recommend Doc-To-Help or RoboHelp, although there are certainly several other fine alternatives available. Paul