Discussion:
HLP Files vs CHM Files
(too old to reply)
Paul S. Person
2015-02-11 19:27:41 UTC
Permalink
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.

It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.

Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.

And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.

I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.

So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.

Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
Frank Beythien
2015-02-11 20:47:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
Have you tried
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

I cannot show the direct Download linkL as I get the german version...

CU
Frank
Paul S. Person
2015-02-13 16:56:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frank Beythien
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
Have you tried
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607
I cannot show the direct Download linkL as I get the german version...
That is /exactly/ what worked last September/October, but not a few
days ago.

Even when re-downloaded, uninstalled, reinstalled, and the computer
restarted.

The freeware HLP reader I tried would launch when I opened the HLP
file (or shortcut), showing that I successfully got Windows to invoke
it, but would not load the HLP file until I opened it from within the
program. This is not good enough.

I am beginning to wonder if an OS/2 Help File reader that runs on
Windows might be the answer.
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
Dave Yeo
2015-02-13 20:48:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
I am beginning to wonder if an OS/2 Help File reader that runs on
Windows might be the answer.
There's the Free Pascal (fpGUI) DocView, cross platform though not OS/2,
runs on Win64, written in pascal. http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/
I also thought there was an IBM inf/hlp viewer released for Windows but
can only find 16 bit ones.
Dave
Lynn McGuire
2015-02-13 17:31:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
No. We are moving to HTML files from CHM but we have not resolved the image issue.

So, we are only changing the text only CHM files for now.
https://www.winsim.com/media/relnotes.html

Lynn
Lynn McGuire
2015-02-14 00:23:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
Have you tried this? I have not but it says for Windows 8.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40899

Lynn
Paul S. Person
2015-02-14 18:05:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by Lynn McGuire
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40899
That's the one that no longer works.

That's the problem -- it used to work. Apparently, Windows 8.1 has
been updated to not allow it to any longer.
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
Lynn McGuire
2015-02-15 02:48:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Post by Lynn McGuire
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40899
That's the one that no longer works.
That's the problem -- it used to work. Apparently, Windows 8.1 has
been updated to not allow it to any longer.
Bummer.

Lynn
Paul S. Person
2015-02-15 18:32:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Lynn McGuire
Post by Paul S. Person
Post by Lynn McGuire
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40899
That's the one that no longer works.
That's the problem -- it used to work. Apparently, Windows 8.1 has
been updated to not allow it to any longer.
Bummer.
And the fun continues.

When I fill out what is clearly labled a "tech support request", I get
an email giving support options.

It's link to "tech support request" (ie, not the FAQ and not the
Community) points to a page that no longer exists. It's link to the
customer service feedback page allows me to give feedback, but, when I
submit, instead of a confirmation screen I get -- I forget what, but
it inspired no confidence that the feedback was actually sent.

Not that this is unique, mind you. Other, lesser, companies have
walled off their tech support and then pulled the drawbridge up after
them, making it impossible to tell them of invalid links. Life is, of
course, much more peaceful that way.

But perhaps, in Microsoft's case, we are supposed to rely on karma to
solve our technical issues.
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
Graeme Geldenhuys
2015-03-08 11:44:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1?
Maybe as an alternative, download the INF help (OS/2 versions), then
download DocView - a cross-platform open source INF viewer with
bookmarks, annotations and advanced searching etc support. It is
magnitudes faster than HLP or CHM help viewers.

A pre-built Docview binary (500KB) can be downloaded from SourceForge
http://sourceforge.net/projects/fpgui/files/fpGUI/1.2/

It works under all 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.

You can see a screenshot of DocView here:
http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/screenshots_apps.shtml


Regards,
Graeme
Paul S. Person
2015-03-08 17:08:03 UTC
Permalink
The problem here is that cbooks (the Master Index) is apparently only
available in Windows. Still, the OS/2 files (with DocView) might be an
improvement, as the HTMLHelp files (or the reader provided with
Windows) do not have a "search" tab (just "Contents" and "Index").

OTOH, I mostly use them now to look up C library functions to make
sure I am using the correct parameters, and HTMLHelp is fine for that.

I was using cbooks last fall, but that was while constructing a
monster test file for use with wgml, and I don't think I will need
that again. Other than that, I have occasionally used it when
researching a question posed here, since I have had minimal luck in
guessing which help file the answer is likely to be in.

Then again, if DocView recognizes what, IIRC, were called
"Bookshelves", then it can probably produce a Master Index of its own.
So I may check it out, time permitting.

On Sun, 8 Mar 2015 11:44:58 +0000 (UTC), "Graeme Geldenhuys"
Post by Graeme Geldenhuys
Post by Paul S. Person
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1?
Maybe as an alternative, download the INF help (OS/2 versions), then
download DocView - a cross-platform open source INF viewer with
bookmarks, annotations and advanced searching etc support. It is
magnitudes faster than HLP or CHM help viewers.
A pre-built Docview binary (500KB) can be downloaded from SourceForge
http://sourceforge.net/projects/fpgui/files/fpGUI/1.2/
It works under all 32-bit and 64-bit Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.
http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/screenshots_apps.shtml
Regards,
Graeme
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
tim_c
2015-03-09 03:30:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
And the refresh the download/uninstall/reinstall/restart sequence
doesn't work either.
I downloaded and installed HelpWorkshop 3.0 but it will not open a HLP
when launched with that file's name. And the support email bounces. So
I uninstalled it.
So I installed the CHM files. After I found (cunningly hidden in
binnt\help), I verified that they are usable (they certainly are) and
discovered that the Master Index is not included. I take it that is is
too large to handle as a CHM file.
Has anyone found a program that can launch with and display HLP files
under Windows 8.1? (If I understand the online info correctly, support
for these files ended with Vista; there are special updates for each
version of Windows from that point on.)
I've seen reference to a security hole in old style help which might
explain a comprehensive zapping. Failing to explain proffering an update
which they know won't work is a black mark. Kiddies.

There is a way which involves replacing the stub giving the call
Microsoft ploy with a working executable. We can't do anything dubious.

Surprisingly Microsoft Helpworkshop seems to be included in W8.1, won't
help with .chm but there is a decompiler out there, ancient and includes
source... in plain C. (good grief!)
http://www.oocities.org/mwinterhoff/helpdeco.htm
Not tried, too much on my hands.
tim_c
2015-03-09 03:58:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
Yay. See _all_ of this thread. Might be a temporary workaround.

http://borncity.com/win/2014/12/18/windows-8-1-winhelp32-exe-issue-after-december-patchday/
Paul S. Person
2015-03-09 16:16:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by tim_c
Post by Paul S. Person
Window 8.1 will not read HLP files.
It used to: when I brought OW up, I installed a special update that
allowed me to read HLP files for at least a month. But no longer.
Apparently, one of the updates removed this ability from Windows 8.1.
Yay. See _all_ of this thread. Might be a temporary workaround.
http://borncity.com/win/2014/12/18/windows-8-1-winhelp32-exe-issue-after-december-patchday/
That helps pin down when it happened and what happened.

And the "what happened" appears to confirm that Microsoft deliberately
and knowingly disabled HLP file support in Windows 8.1.

Life goes on. Even without HLP files.
--
"Nature must be explained in
her own terms through
the experience of our senses."
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