HTML Help Problems

[rb74]

Hi all,

I have built a MDI application with 15 child forms. I created the HTML help files in the HTML workshop and compiled the help file. I also created context sensitive help in the compiled help file, and assigned the topic ID to each form's HelpContextID property. In the Form_Load event of the MDI parent form, I inserted this code App.HelpFile = App.Path & "\MyApp_Help.chm". So far I think I have been following the correct steps, and I checked for this topic in the forums and I think I am okay in this preparation.

Ok, here is the weird part. I have one form that is the kind of "main" form where data entry occurs. When I press F1 when this form has focus, the HTML help loads with the correct html page loaded. This also works with my menu command with SendKeys "{F1}" in the menubar on this form as well. If I close this form, then either give focus to another already open form or open a different new form and press F1, nothing happens. In addition, I am testing SendKeys "{F1}" coded in the menubar on only one other form, and when I select that menu item with the SendKeys behind it, my app hangs. I have to do Ctrl-Alt-Delete to kill it, then close VB so that I can work with it.

One other bit of information. Before I added the context sensitive information to all forms and to the compiled .chm file, I first tested the help system. The two forms I mentioned above (the main form, and the form that causes the app to hang when selecting the menubar Help that has SendKeys "{F1}&quot worked fine loading the default html file and loaded the HTML Help each time.

Does anyone have any idea as to why this is happening?


Thanks,

Rob

 

[vbkris]

so the problem is SendKeys?

instead of that try shellexecute.

Known is handfull, Unknown is worldfull

 

[rb74]

vbkris,

SendKeys is one of the problems, and thank you for the suggestion. I am thinking it may be something with the compiled help file, because if I take out the HelpContextID's for each form, only the main form opens the help file when I press F1. I think I am going to create another compiled help file and see if this fixes the situation of whether the other forms can open the help file.


Thanks,

Rob

 

[zemp]

rb74, have you taken a look at faq222-2088? If not it may be helpful.

Thanks and Good Luck!

zemp

 

[rb74]

Thanks, Zemp. I missed that FAQ (it was 3 in the morning). There was one step in the FAQ that I didn't know about, which I will try when I get a break at work. I will let you know if it helps.


Thanks again,

Rob

 

[rb74]

Hi all,

I am sorry for taking a while to respond. I did complete the step I mentioned above that I thought I missed, but I completed it an alternate way when I initially connected my help file to the application.

I did notice something else though. I mentioned earlier that one form can launch the help file, my main data entry form. When this form loads, none of the objects on the form gain focus. So pressing F1 launches the help file. Makes sense. If I give focus to any object on the form and press F1, the application hangs and I have to Ctrl-Alt-Delete to stop it from hanging. Each component on the form has the HelpContextID set to 0, so I am trying to make it as general as possible.

Any ideas?

Rob

Go Ducks.

 

[jlb101]

Just thought you might be interested in some help tools I use from a company called Innovasys.

I use the HelpStudio and Context!VB which integrate into the VB IDE hand make my help coding so much quicker.

They are at

http://www.innovasys.co.uk

(no I am not part of the company )

Regards

Jonathan

 

[rb74]

Hi all,

I just wanted to pass along information I found that helped me fix my problem. Microsoft has an article to incorporate an API call to launch HTML Help without the app crashing.

Here is the link -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315988

Thanks everyone who tried to help me.

Rob