Msgbox Options, Problems With HelpFile Parameter

[Moonshine]

Hi All

Ive written a User Manual for my database, in HTML format. I wanted to use the Help File option of a message box, to have the help button open this file.

Ive set the location to a Public Const variable, and then added the Variable into the code, example:

MsgBox "Please enter a Paris ID", , strTitle, strHelp

But i am prompted with the following error:

Runtime Error 5; Invalid Procedure call or argument


Anyone offer advise as to what im doing wrong?

 

[antomack]

You need to provide a context number as well as the help file name so it should read

MsgBox "Please enter a Paris ID", , strTitle, strHelp, intContext

 

[Moonshine]

Hi, thanks for that...

It kinda works, but instead of opening the file i have created, it opens the standard help menu but then opens MSN up, and searches for the file... I want it to actually open the file i made

Any ideas?

 

[ReAn]

Hi, thanks for that...

It kinda works, but instead of opening the file i have created, it opens the standard help menu but then opens MSN up, and searches for the file... I want it to actually open the file i made

Any ideas?

When you built your HLP file, each topic you made should have had a unique Context ID. This is the link to that topic. You enter this ID in the Context field so when it opens your help file, it jumps straight to the topic that relates to the error. If you just want to go to the contents, find it's context ID and dump it in that field.

 

[Moonshine]

Ahh, i never actually created it as a .hlp file, its created as a .html file.

I guess this is going to stop me using it?

 

[ReAn]

Ahh, i never actually created it as a .hlp file, its created as a .html file.

I guess this is going to stop me using it?

Microsoft's Help System only operates off Microsoft .hlp or .cfm (it might be .chm, i cannot remember).

.hlp was the legacy system. It was a help file built using a formatted scripting language (sort of).
.chm (or whatever) is the new system. It uses a template style, and actually generates a bunch of .html files and compiles them into a single document. This allowed for more flexability.

Unfortunately you cannot catch the help button as a result type, so if you want direct control over the help button to execute IE and load your page you will have to make your own msgbox, which isn't too hard.

 

[Moonshine]

Yeah, ive made a few msgbox's so could do that.

To save me doing all that, can i convert a file into a .hlp or .chm. Or if not, what software do i use to create a proper one?

 

[ReAn]

Yeah, ive made a few msgbox's so could do that.

To save me doing all that, can i convert a file into a .hlp or .chm. Or if not, what software do i use to create a proper one?

You can, but you will find it's exponentially easier to just make a quick form.

 

[Moonshine]

Fair enough, thanks for all your help

I'll start making some more forms! Least its one form for everything, can just change basics for every help part.