Basics about Windows Help Workshops Foundation
Creation of online help files is accomplished under Windows by what is called a "Help Workshop". This is a program which manages all files which are part of a help project. It creates an online help file from source files. Different versions of the Workshop exist for creating RTF and HTML-based online help file. These version work very similar and differ mainly in the file format of the source files and supplementary files used when creating an online help file.
Source code format | RTF | HTML |
Workshop | HCW.EXE | HHW.EXE |
File extension for compiled online help | .HLP | .CHM |
File extension for help project file | .HPJ | .HHP |
File extension for table of contents file | .CNT | .HHC |
File extension for index | in HLP file | .HHK |
File extension for full text search | .FTS | in CHM file |
Both Workshops HCW.EXE and HHW.EXE have comprehensive online help which explains in detail the usage of the programs and how to create an online help file. At this point, therefore, only some tips are given for getting started with a Help Workshop along with some considerations about planning a help system.
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