Opening HTML Help topics from WinHelp

Creating a link to a specific topic in a CHM (Compressed HTML) file can be accomplished by using the ExecFile macro in WinHelp.  In addition, you must add a few extra parameters to allow WinHelp to interpret the file structure of an HTML Help file.

HTML Help uses an internal folder structure to store all the files compressed inside of an HTML Help file. You can open any CHM topic by first figuring out it's location within the HTML Help file.  You can find the URL of a topic by examining the topic's properties.

Try this:

  1. Open any HTML Help file.

  2. Right click the topic and choose Properties.

  3. Highlight and copy the entire Address (URL) to the file.  Make sure you select the entire file name beginning with mk:@ through the file name ending with .htm.

  4. Open RoboHelp Classic for WinHelp.

  5. Create a new WinHelp topic.

  6. Click the Create New Macro Hotspot button.

  7. In Hotspot text type:
    Open CHM Topic    .

  8. Click the Wizard button.

  9. Under Category select Program.

  10. Under Macro select ExecFile.

  11. In the File field type: HH.EXE.

  12. In Arguments paste the address from the previous step.

  13. Under Display State choose any display.

  14. Click OK.

  15. Compile, Run, and Test your results.

Parameters for the macro

  • HH.EXE

Microsoft Help engine used to display HTML-Help

  • mk:MSITStore:

protocol used by the HTML-Help engine to call the HTML-Help topic

  • C:\Help\Help.CHM

location of chm file

  • ::/Find/Find_Tab.htm

specific subfolder and topic location

 

Next, Opening WinHelp Topics in HTML Help