HHC help file format gotcha
back in my days working with NCompass Resolution and Microsoft Content Management Server (MCMS), I began an MCMS FAQ that was published in CHM and HTML formats. I used to write the topics in Resolution (and later in MCMS) and then I had my ASP script that dynamically produced an HHC table of contents so that Microsoft Help Workshop could create a full-text search version of the document.
well that was back in about 1999 and I obviously didn't remember all the lessons from back then. today I was working with basically the same setup (minus MCMS) for Metalogix Software's SharePoint migration solutions.
I was creating a new CHM and found that Help Workshop will compile the file, but the result was, "This program cannot display the webpage".
I found the answer after looking at the broken .HHC file and a working file side-by-side. so here's my little test. can you see the difference?
this is a--greatly simplified--broken .HHC file:
and here is a working .HHC file:
answer below...
- click for full-size image
answer: the help file directories must not contain spaces in their names. "Foo Directory" will fail, "BarDirectory" will work. now that's a gotcha that the app should catch and report.
BTW - this same error will appear if you don't select a "Default file" inside the Help Workshop project options. however, in that case, everything works once you click on a topic.
well that was back in about 1999 and I obviously didn't remember all the lessons from back then. today I was working with basically the same setup (minus MCMS) for Metalogix Software's SharePoint migration solutions.
I was creating a new CHM and found that Help Workshop will compile the file, but the result was, "This program cannot display the webpage".
I found the answer after looking at the broken .HHC file and a working file side-by-side. so here's my little test. can you see the difference?
this is a--greatly simplified--broken .HHC file:
and here is a working .HHC file:
answer below...
- click for full-size image
answer: the help file directories must not contain spaces in their names. "Foo Directory" will fail, "BarDirectory" will work. now that's a gotcha that the app should catch and report.
BTW - this same error will appear if you don't select a "Default file" inside the Help Workshop project options. however, in that case, everything works once you click on a topic.