WindowsHelp到HTMLHelp

Question

I tried converting a big winhelp project to htmlhelp project using htmlhelp workshop tool. It got converted, but images and table of contents are not working.please help

Answer 1

The WinHelp (.hlp) format has been around since the very early 1990s and is superseded by HTML Help 1.x (.chm). Microsoft strongly advise you move away from WinHelp about ten years ago.

A tutorial on my site gives a step-by-step description how to convert WinHelp (HLP) to HTMLHelp (CHM) on a freeware/shareware and "low budget" level. The conversion project example from the download section includes a working structure and example files.

Please note a tool called HHPMod especially for migrating context-sensitive F1 help. If F1 help has been used intensively in your old project, it can be difficult to switch from WinHelp (.hlp) to HTMLHelp (.chm).

You can of course use a helpauthoring tool (HAT) like Help+Manual , HelpScribble or any other HAT to convert existing WinHelp projects to HTMLHelp.

For further information see also Running WinHelp files on Windows10

Please note that there is a sample project available in my step-by-step guide for download that should lead to the following result when using HTMLHelp Workshop Wizard:

If this first important step for the migration into the HTMLHelp CHM format was reached, further work is necessary eg especially for context-sensitive F1-Help of an application.

Go to Converting WinHelp to HTMLHelp by HTMLHelp Workshop search for the HHPMod note box and follow the link further Information . As I understand this is the main task of HHPMod.

Quote: "... The filenames "winh4qgg.htm, .." created in the conversion process for each unique topic's HTML page are not "user-friendly"."

You need to read Notes on Fixing HTML Help Converted from WinHelp too and you may want to use a tool like Find and Replace FAR HTML .

All this - including the (old) help authoring for CHM-Format - has a learn curve of course.

As far as I know the filenames can be left as they are if no F1 help is needed. You have to decide how to clean up the input data for the HTMLHelp Workshop (HHW) and especially the point in time when you only have to work with the HHW to create a clean CHM file.

One thing I see is the use of the free HelpNDoc to convert your WinHelp project.