Creating and Using HTML Help in MFC Applications

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Introduction

Last time I tried to search the Internet to get a complete guide of using HTML in an MFC application. I realized that there are many topics mentioning HTML Help but none of them has the same purpose with my desired work, so after working with HTML Help Workshop and reading documents, I finally decided to write a topic about working with HTML help from scratch.

In this presentation, I'll take you through 9 steps in 2 main stages to integrate an HTML help file with an MFC application. The 2 main stages are: 

1. Create HTML Help files. 
2. Link HTML file to your own MFC application. 

Stage 1: Create *.chm (Compiled Help Module) file

First of all, you need to have HTML Help Workshop installed, it can be downloaded from: Microsoft HTML Help Downloads. 

Edit your own *.chm file (Compiled Help Module). You can start from the beginning, but I would rather suggest you modifying an existing .chm file that has the same structure with your prospective .chm file. Do the following steps: 

Step 1. Open HTML Help Workshop. 

Step 2. Click File->Decompile. 

Step 3. Choose destination folder where you want to store files after decompiling. You should create a new folder to store files because many files are to be be generated after the decompilation. 

Select the existing .chm file.

In this example, I use PowerDVD.chm file because it has the same help structure with my application.

Step 4. Using an HTML Editor, Microsoft Frontpage for example, to edit the content of the HTML file(s) that has/have been extracted by HTML Help Workshop to the content that you want to have. This step is like the process of editing a website.

Step 5. Import and Compile your own help

• Click File->New->Project. One dialog appears, select Next.
• Assign a name for the project. Click Next.
• Check all checkboxes you see in the new dialog. Click Next.
• In the next three dialogs, the New Project Wizards will ask you to locate the table of contents, the Help index and the HTML files. You simply choose the appropriate files that HTML Help Workshop has extracted in the folder in Step 3. Click Next each time you've answered one dialog.
• Click File->Compile. 

That is all you need to do to create your own .chm file, now forward to the 2^nd stage.

Stage 2: Aggregate Help file to your MFC Application

Step 6. Create a registry key:

• Open command window, type regedit
• Browse to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\HTMLHelp
• Create a new string value as follows:
  • Value name is your HTML help file name, for example: SampleHelp.chm
    • Value data is the path where the .chm file locates, for example: C:\TestHelp\MyHelp\ (remember to put one back-slash at the end).

Step 7. Create an MFC application.

Step 8. Import htmlhelp.lib to your application.

• Right click on the Resource Files->Add Files to Folder.
• Select htmlhelp.lib.

Step 9. Call Help

• Create a button.
• Add this line in the TestHelpDlg.cpp.

  #include "htmlhelp.h"

• Assign an event to call the Help

  void CTestHelpDlg::OnHelp() 
  {
    HtmlHelp(this->m_hWnd, "HelpSample.chm", HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, NULL);
  }

That's your work done!