Support for Help API

[ChrisF]

I note that TrueUpdate screens can show a help button, but there does not appear to be support for the standard windows help APIs.
In particular, adding support for the HTML Help (.chm files) would be appreciated.

Details for the API can be found by running the following from a commandLine window:

hh mk:@MSITStore:C:\WINDOWS\Help\api.chm::/ov_html_help_api_overview.htm

Or, see the whole HTML Help helpfile with this command:

hh mk:@MSITStore:htmlhelp.chm

(Calling hh.exe directly sometimes has elevation issues on Vista.)

That way, when one adds a Help button, it will be easy to do something useful with it. (c:

Also, adding an action along the lines of OnF1Pressed would also be useful, or adjusting the Help button so it is activated by F1 as well as via the &H in it's caption.

[jassing]

Originally Posted by ChrisF

That way, when one adds a Help button, it will be easy to do something useful with it. (c:

Also, adding an action along the lines of OnF1Pressed would also be useful, or adjusting the Help button so it is activated by F1 as well as via the &H in it's caption.

Chris:

Not sure if this is at all helpful -- and I haven't tested it -- but you needn't call hh.exe --

My apps make a call to
DECLARE INTEGER HtmlHelp ;
IN hhctrl.ocx ;
AS HtmlHelpA;
INTEGER hwndCaller , ;
STRING pszFile, ;
INTEGER uCommand, ;
INTEGER dwData

Basically you pass it the help file and context id.

I haven't tried to convert this to pure lua or a dll.callfunction call -- but it might get you started.

[ChrisF]

I hadn't considered calling it directly myself, but I imagine that will also work.
It'd just be nice if there was a wrapper for it.

Either way, how does one capture the user pressing F1, since at the moment it does nothing..?

[jassing]

Originally Posted by ChrisF

I hadn't considered calling it directly myself, but I imagine that will also work.
It'd just be nice if there was a wrapper for it.

Either way, how does one capture the user pressing F1, since at the moment it does nothing..?

For now; I think you're stuck with using the Help Button alone.

I recall a few years ago where we had to update a bit of code wrapped around a custom object that the source no longer existed for -- the coder we used was able to basically trap all keycodes before the object processed them. so basically he took the keycode, processed it; and passed it on -- installing a keyboard hook in real time.

I'll try to contact him to see if he has any ideas.

[ChrisF]

Is there any progress on this?

We are beginning to roll out usage of TrueUpdate to more projects, and having F1=Help be global across every screen the user sees would be really useful...

[Darryl]

Your suggestion has been submitted for consideration, thank you.

REF: 17681