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-
- wfwhlp.zip contains basic information on constructing Windows Help
- files that can be viewed in Windows by using the help
- engine. This is a basic document - not intended to
- be "the" complete reference. Windows programmers can
- call a .hlp file from within their program to provide
- the user with instructions, tips, and references when
- running the program. Help files can also be useful
- to keep notes or reminders in without having to write
- a Windows program.
-
- The main file of interest is wfwhlp.hlp which is a Windows
- Help file containing the notes.
-
- The intent was to provide basic instruction in how to create
- Windows Help files using ONLY Word for Windows, the Microsoft
- help compiler (hc31.exe), and perhaps Windows' Paintbrush.
- The remaining files can be used as further examples.
-
- Abstract: When I first began "messing" with writing windows programs,
- I wanted to add help files but didn't because looking at the
- documentation was overwhelming. It looked as though you would
- have to learn another language just to create a simple help
- file. The Microsoft examples in the Software Developement
- Kit didn't make it appear any easier either -- so I simply
- omitted Help from my programs. There were a few "shareware"
- programs that came out that were supposed to make it "easier"
- to write Help files - but didn't for me; and then there is
- the professional WexTex package that I can't afford. Then
- it came to pass that you could buy Microsoft Word for Windows
- for around $120 - too good a deal to pass up - and I remember
- some cryptic line about using Word to generate Help files. I
- hoped the documentation for Word would shed some light on this
- or someone would publish something to make it easier to catch
- on to .... I didn't find anything. If the information in the
- .hlp file makes it easier for just one person to understand
- how to do Help files... then the small amount of time I spent
- doing it will be worth it.
-
- As with everything I've ever done in life - I'm not very adept at anything
- and most of the time I hurry things too much and make mistakes. Please pass
- along any errors/bad judgement so I can correct things.
-
- Richard Prince compuserve 70612,1211
-