How Do I create a Help file using an .RTF 1

[DougP]

Using VB 5
How Do I create a Help file using an .RTF made in Word '97

Specifically the context ID

Thanks for all your help DougP, MCP

Visit my WEB site

http://www.barcodeone.com

to see how Bar-codes can help you be more productive

 

[Guest_imported]

RTF documents can be saved to .html with MS WORD. Then, download the Microsoft Help Workshop from Microsoft, compile the html with the tool and use it on your application.

 

[DougP]

Ok that much I know
Where is the "Microsoft Help Workshop Workshop" at?
Did it come with VB do I have to get it from MS's WEB site?
How do I compile teh RTF once in there?
How do I add a context ID in VB

I need specifics
DougP, MCP

Visit my WEB site

http://www.barcodeone.com

to see how Bar-codes can help you be more productive

 

[Guest_imported]

Download the Microsoft Help Workshop from

http://wwww.msdn.microsoft.com

and search for it. There's a help also available try read it. Don't compile the RTF and the "workshop" won't recognize it. You should save the RTF into HTML from MS Word.

 

[MiggyD]

Wow! I'm supprised it (HC.EXE) doesn't come with VB5.

I have VB4 and there's plenty of instructions on creating .rft files and compiling it to a windows help file and how to implement it into a VB project.

I only have this ot offer...specifically the content ID is part of the Page Header of the section of help to be displayed ex...

#{\footnote Content}
${\footnote Content of Help File}
K{\footnote Content;Main Page;Top Help Page}

the # defines a context string that uniquely identifies a topic to link to from another help topic

the $ defines the topice title--these appear in a list box when you use the Search--these are optional

the K defines a keyword for which the user searches for a top (back in the days of win 3.x)--meaning these are also optional

The most important one is the # (pound sign). Create a list of ALL!!! pound sign names. Then when you create the "Help Project" (.HPJ) file, you'll need to map these context strings to numbers relative to your VB program. Let's say your first screen is a Logon screen with two text boxes and one button.

TextBox1.HelpContext = 10
TextBox2.HelpContext = 11
cmdButton1.HelpContext = 12

in your .hpj you'd map something similar to this:

[MAP Section]
Contents 1
User_Name 10
User_Passwrd 11
Push_Btns 12

But obviously, there is a little bit more to this, but this is to help you get the general idea...although, this is for VB4. If this helps you out then click below to let us know.
--MiggyD

 

[Guest_imported]

MiggyD,

I beg to disagree, Microsoft offers us the best tool for creating help files and why should you stick on what you've already known before. Explore the other possibilities, HTML help file can run on both VB5 & 6 and yet using this tool is so easy and very quick to implement.

 

[MiggyD]

VBin24HRS,

I'm glad you disagree...that's what these forums are all about.

My wife used to work in a "confidential" and "securied" business where the software was specialized--just for them. And, since DougP hadn't mentioned otherwise, that is what I presumed he was working on.

Besides, it doesn't hurt to use some of the "Older" stuff, now and again. Sometimes, it's good to do so, so that you can see if it is/was backward compatible, for a quick test run, or to see just how much work will be involved in converting to a newer language.

--MiggyD