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================================================================================
Title: "HTML Help Kit for Delphi"
Description: Add Html Help support to Delphi
Platform: Delphi 2, 3, 4, 5 ...
Version: 1.5
Email: support@helpware.net
Web: http://www.helpware.net
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 The Helpware Group
Changes:
22-Feb-1999 1.0 Original version
23-Feb-1999 Now official - The kit is freeware (see bottom of this file)
31-Mar-1999 1.1 Now get HHCtrl.OCX path from registry instead of winsys dir.
04-Feb-1999 1.2 hh.pas - Now uses LoadLibrary so we can silently detect if hhtrcl.ocx is installed.
09-Jun-1999 HH.PAS 1.3
- Follows Borland coding guidelines more closely - but no support for C++ Builder.
- GetPathToHHCtrlOCX() now uses registry.OpenKeyReadOnly() for safe NT support.
** Thanks Heedong Lim <hdlim@dcenlp.chungbuk.ac.kr>
- tagHH_GLOBAL_PROPERTY = record now padded for correct 8 byte alignment.
** Thanks "Marcel van Brakel" <brakelm@bart.nl>
HH_FUNCS.PAS 1.3
- Now handles early IE three number version numbers correctly
Was returning x.x.0.x instead of x.x.x.0
** Thanks "Silterra, Enrico" <enrico.silterra@nortel.com>
- Add IE5.0 & IE5.0a version numbers to GetIEFriendlyVer()
- DebugOut() is only called now with _DebugMode flag.
02-JUL-1999 HH_FUNCS.PAS 1.4
- HH.EXE 1.1b onwards supports help context command line param.
"HH.EXE -mapid ID chm". Code no longer reports error.
Removed error HH_ERR_UnsupportedCall = 4;
- Function IsDirWritable() added
Make debug file to winDir if drive if not writable. EG exe on CDROM.
- Fixed some compile errors with D3
HH.PAS 1.4
- Slight changes to some structures. Most data structures have been tested.
18-APR-2000 HH_FUNCS.PAS 1.5
- Now supports Delphi 2 compiler (was D3 an greater)
- The Hook "Application.OnHelp" object now has some callbacks so
you can easily override the default actions. It also now supports
"Whats this" field based help.
- Added function HHCloseAll(). It simply calls the API with command HH_CLOSE_ALL
HH.PAS 1.5
- Now supports Delphi 2 compiler (was D3 an greater)
- Remove references to WIN32 conditional define as not applicable
================================================================================
CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS IT
2. UNIT HH.PAS
3. UNIT HH_FUNCS.PAS
3.1 GLOBALS VARS AND CONSTANTS
3.2 MAKING DELPHI USE HTML HELP
3.3 HTML HELP FUNCTIONS
3.4 DEBUGING FUNCTIONS
4. LEGAL INFO
================================================================================
1. WHAT IS IT
================================================================================
This Kit contains two Delphi Units to give you access to
the HTML Help API via Delphi 3 or 4.
o HH.PAS ........ Constants and interface to MS Html Help API.
translation from "htmlhelp.h".
o HH_FUNCS.PAS ........ Library of HTML Help related functions.
o Hook "Application.OnHelp" so that all Delphi
Help call are directed to access HTML Help.
o Functions to parse HTML help paths.
o Functions to check component versions.
o Functions to open help via Windows "HH.EXE"
and KeyWorks program "KEYHH.EXE".
================================================================================
2. UNIT HH.PAS
================================================================================
Like WinHelp there is one function provided by the HTML Help API
that allows you to open help files, show help pages, show popups
and so on.
For help in using this function download Html Help Workshop,
open the online help and search for "API reference".
OR
Download just the API.CHM from the MS web site
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/tools/htmlhelp/wkshp/download_main.htm
---------------------------------------------------------
function HtmlHelp( hwndCaller: HWND;
pszFile: PChar;
uCommand: UInt;
dwData: DWORD): HWND;
---------------------------------------------------------
EG. To open a CHM file
HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, "Help.chm", HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0);
EG. To open a CHM file at a particular Topic
HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, "Help.chm::/Intro.htm", HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0);
EG. To open a CHM file at a particular Topic and use a Window definition
called "Mainwin".
HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, "c:\Help.chm::/Intro.htm>Mainwin", HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0);
EG. To open a CHM file using context help = 1001
HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, "c:\Help.chm", HH_HELP_CONTEXT, 1001);
Note: Most people tend to use 0 instead of GetDesktopWindow.
**** Warning Warning Will Robinson ****
If you call the HH API directly from your application, that is not though
a second helper program like HH.EXE or KEYHH.EXE, you MUST close any open help
windows before shutting down the application or you will probably crash Windows.
The call to close all windows is simply:
HH.HtmlHelp(0, nil, HH_CLOSE_ALL, 0);
================================================================================
3. UNIT HH_FUNCS.PAS
================================================================================
Optional Unit provides a library of handy functions to help you
access HTML Help from Delphi 3, 4 and 5 applications.
3.1 GLOBAL VARS AND CONSTANTS
================================================================================
At the heart of HH is the activeX control "HHCTRL.OCX".
At the heart of IE is the activeX control "SHDOCVW.dll".
We can get lots of useful information from these two DLLs.
These variables are initialized at program startup.
VAR
_hhInstalled: Boolean; Set TRUE if HTML Help is installed
_hhVerStr: String; eg. '4.73.8252.1' or '' if not found
_hhMajVer: word; eg. 4
_hhMinVer: word; eg. 73
_hhBuildNo: word; eg. 8252
_hhSubBuildNo: word; eg. 1
_hhFriendlyVerStr: String; eg. '1.2'
_ieInstalled: Boolean; Set TRUE if Internet Explorer Installed
_ieVerStr: String; eg. '5.00.0910.1309'
_ieFriendlyVerStr: String; eg. 'Internet Explorer 4.01'
Sometimes you need to use a special CHM path prefix.
1. When opening a CHM file using "HH.EXE" command line.
(prefix not required in later version of HTML Help)
2. When opening a CHM file from web page link or in Internet Explorer.
In these cases you need to prefix the CHM path with either:
CONST
HH_PREFIX_IE4 = 'ms-its:'; //IE4 and above compatible command line prefix
HH_PREFIX_IE3 = 'mk:@MSITStore:'; //IE3 and above compatible command line prefix
EG. ms-its:c:\Help.chm::/Intro.htm
EG. mk:@MSITStore:c:\Help.chm::/Intro.htm
Note: 'ms-its:' can be shorted to just 'its:'. IE4/5 understands this.
3.2 MAKING DELPHI USE HTML HELP
================================================================================
Class "THookHelpSystem" can be used to redirect all Delphi Help calls
to HTML Help calls.
TO INSTALL:
// 1. Use the unit and declare a global
USES HH, HH_FUNCS;
var mHHelp: THookHelpSystem;
// 2. Create the Object in main form create.
procedure TMainForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
mHHelp := THookHelpSystem.Create(pathToCHM, '', htHHAPI);
...
// 3. Free the object in main form destroy
procedure TMainForm.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject);
begin
//Unhook and free
mHHelp.Free;
HHCloseAll; //Close help before shutdown or big trouble
...
Thats all there is to it. Delphi will now direct all its help
calls to the specified CHM help file instead of the WinHelp system.
You simply continue to use the "HelpContext" properties and commands
like you always have.
EG. Set Form.HelpContext=1001. Press F1 will open the CHM using context 1001.
EG. Set Control.HelpContext=1002. Press F1 will open the CHM using context 1002.
EG. Application.HelpContext(1003) will open the CHM using context 1003.
CALLBACKS (new for V1.5):
Normally the hook class simply receives the WinHelp help messages and executes a
standard HTML Help context call. Two callbacks are available so you can overwrite
the WinHelp Help_Context and Help_ContextPopup messages with your own functions.
In the real world example that follows, we have intercepted both types of WinHelp
messages so that we can look up the topic path in an ini file using the HelpId.
Note: Help_ContextPopup messages (with the controls X,Y position) only appear
if you set the the forms BorderIcons property to include biHelp. Alternatively
in the FormCreate() -- Self.BorderIcons := Self.BorderIcons + [biHelp];
{All Help_Context messages will come here}
procedure MyHelpButtonEvent(ContextHelpID: Longint);
var CHMPath: String;
begin
// We are have a look up table (ini file) containing the HelpID to HelpTopic mapping
CHMPath := LookUpPathFromID(ContextHelpID) ;
HH.HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, PChar(CHMPath), HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0)
end;
{All 'Whats This' & F1 Help_ContextPopup WinHelp events will come here}
procedure F1HelpEvent(ContextHelpID: Longint; X, Y: Integer);
var ChmPath: String;
begin
// We are have a look up table (ini file) containing the HelpID to HelpTopic mapping
CHMPath := LookUpPathFromID(ContextHelpID) + '>$GLOBAL_F1WIN';
HH.HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow, PChar(CHMPath), HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0)
end;
// 2. Create the Object in main form create.
procedure TMainForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
mHHelp := THookHelpSystem.Create(pathToCHM, '', htHHAPI);
{hook in our special functions}
mHHelp.HelpCallback1 := HelpButtonEvent;
mHHelp.HelpCallback2 := F1HelpEvent;
{Enable Whats This help messages}
Self.BorderIcons := Self.BorderIcons + [biHelp];
...
// 3. Free the object in main form destroy
procedure TMainForm.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject);
begin
//Unhook and free
mHHelp.Free;
HHCloseAll; //Close help before shutdown or big trouble
...
MORE INFO:
constructor Create(aDefChmFile, aDefWinDef: String; aHostType: THostType);
o aDefChmFile - Name of CHM help file opened when F1 pressed.
o aDefWinDef - Set to empty string to specify the default help window.
o aHostType - Normally you would specify "htAPI".
"htAPI" - This application is hosting the help via the HH API.
"htKeyHHexe" - KeyWorks KeyHH.EXE is hosting the help calls.
"htHHexe" - Windows HH.EXE is hosting the help calls.
The advantage of using a separate EXE to call help is...
a) It separates help from your programs runtime memory
b) Delphi applications have problems with hosting HTML Help in the
situation where the online help is using a Delphi Automation Server.
EG. We use a COM control to display videos. When the COM help shuts
down it produces and access violations. Whether its Delphs fault or
IEs fault its still a problem.
If you do use ActiveX, COM, Automation libraries to extend your
help page capabilities and you get access violations on NT or
Win98 machines then change to using the "KeyHH.EXE" host. "HH.EXE"
has very limited options and only HH 1.1b and above supports
contextual help calls via the command line.
Download "KeyHH.EXE" from "http://www.keyworks.net/"
*** 18-Apr-2000: Delphi 5 + HH 1.3 seem OK now.
Other Methods and Properties:
function HelpTopic(aTopic: String): Integer;
property ChmFile: String;
property WinDef: String;
property HostType: THostType;
o You can change the CHM help file at any time.
EG. mHHelp.ChmFile := 'c:\myhelp.chm';
o You can change the CHM window definition at any time.
EG. mHHelp.WinDef := 'Mainwin';
EG. mHHelp.WinDef := ''; // '' for default window
o You can change the Host application at any time. See notes above.
EG. mHHelp.HostType = htAPI;
o Open a help topic directly
EG. mHHelp.HelpTopic('\options\index.htm');
Note:
With the new callback option in V1.5 we tend to ignore the above
class methods and when our callback function receives a help event
we call the HH.htmlhelp() low level function directly. Its clearer
code and HH.htmlhelp() also returns the handle of the HH window.
Whats This Help
To enable the "Whats This" Help_ContextPopup messages you must set
Self.BorderIcons := Self.BorderIcons + [biHelp];
Do this in the FormCreate() or Object Inspector. The Whats This
button in the title bar will not show if you have minimize
or maximize buttons. But you can make a toolbar button behave like
a Whats This button like this..
procedure TForm1.WhatsThisToolButtonClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
DefWindowProc(handle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_CONTEXTHELP, 0);
end;
3.3 HTML HELP FUNCTIONS
================================================================================
Here are some HTML Help functions. You can go fishing through
hh_funcs.pas to discover other useful functions.
function HHDisplayTopic(aChmFile, aTopic, aWinDef: String;
aHostType: THostType): Integer;
Display a help topic from the CHM file using a specific Window Definition.
aChmFile: Name of compressed help file to display.
aTopic: Path to html file in Chm file. Leave blank for default page.
aWinDef: Specify a window definition. Leave blank for default Window.
Note: not supported by some versions of HH.EXE and KeyHH.EXE
aHostType: Who will host the HH Window. See Notes above.
Returns: All OK, HH_ERR_HHNotInstalled,
HH_ERR_KeyHHexeNotFound (aHostType = htKeyHHexe)
HH_ERR_HHexeNotFound (aHostType = htHHexe)
Example: HHDisplayTopic('windows.chm','about_magnify.htm','windefault', htHHAPI);
function HHTopic(aCHMPath: String; aHostType: THostType): Integer;
Same as above except aChmFile, aTopic and aWinDef are entered
as aChmPath EG. "aChmFile::/Topic>aWinDef"
function HHHelpContext(aChmFile: String; aContextID: DWord;
aWinDef: String; aHostType: THostType): Integer;
Displays a help topic from the CHM file based on a mapped topic ID.
aChmFile: Name of compressed help file to display.
aContext: Specifies the numeric ID of the topic to display.
aWinDef: Specify a window definition. Leave blank for default Window.
Note: not supported by some versions of HH.EXE and KeyHH.EXE
aHostType: Who will host the HH Window. See Notes above.
Returns: All OK, HH_ERR_HHNotInstalled,
HH_ERR_KeyHHexeNotFound (aHostType = htKeyHHexe)
HH_ERR_HHexeNotFound (aHostType = htHHexe)
Example: HHHelpContext('windows.chm',200,'windefault', htHHAPI);
function HHContext(aChmPath: String; aContextId: Integer; aHostType: THostType): Integer;
Same as above except aChmFile and aWinDef are entered as
aChmPath EG. "aChmFile>aWinDef".
Note: HH.EXE host reqires a prefix EG. "mk:@MSITStore:"
Procedure HHShowError(err: Integer);
Call to automatically display any error message for the above functions.
Example:
ret := HHHelpContext('windows.chm',200,'windefault', htHHAPI);
HHShowError(ret); //if ret <> 0 then we see an error
3.4 DEBUGING FUNCTIONS
================================================================================
To enable logging of debug messages to log file ".\HHdebug.txt" (you override the name)
either set the global var _DebugMode := TRUE
or create a file called ".\debug.debug".
This can be very useful. If a client is reporting problems, then you can
simply create ".\debug.debug", run the program and examine the log file.
procedure DebugOut(msgStr: String; const Args: array of const);
Send a string to the debug log file. Normally used with global "_DebugMode".
Takes same parameters as Delphs FORMAT() function.
Put lots of debug into you files. You never know when you may need it.
Example:
if _DebugMode then
DebugOut('_RunDir = "%s"', [_RunDir]);
Or call DebugOut2() which does the same code.
procedure ShowDebugFile;
Display the debug file using windows default text editor.
procedure ResetDebugFile;
Reset the log file. Log is truncated and some global vars
are written to it.
================================================================================
4. LEGAL INFO
================================================================================
o The Kit is Freeware.
o You are free to rewrite it and hack it to bits.
But please don't distribute it in a modified form.
o You may not freely distribute the Kit without the authors consent.
Companies and sites may however direct others to our web site.
o This software is provided 'as is'. Although tested thoroughly we cannot
guarantee the software is bug free. You use it at your own risk.
o Support is available via email within reason.
IE. Don't expect heaps for something you paid nothing for :-)
Enjoy, and please take some time to check out the rest of our site
at http://www.helpware.net
support@helpware.net
================================================================================
*** END OF FILE ***