Installing help files manually in Delphi 10.1 Berlin

Question

I'm hoping that I can install some help files from a component that includes help up through XE7 into Delphi 10.1 Berlin. I know it involves using H2Reg. It includes .ini files for versions of Delphi from 2009 to XE7. Looking at the .ini file, I'm guessing I need to at least know the namespace of the Berlin help system? There is this section in the ini file that I'm thinking would need to be updated for Berlin:

[Merge_Namespace]
;<nsName>|<option>
embarcadero.rs_xe7

I'm also surprised that there are separate help files (.HxS files, etc.) for each Delphi version. I would have expected that the components would operate the same regardless of Delphi version and so I would have expected only one set of help files. Is it common to have different help files for different Delphi versions? My basic guess was that since XE7 was the last version I have help files for, I would install the XE7 help into Berlin, assuming that is doable at all.

Thanks

Answer 1

.HsX files are for Microsoft's Document Explorer, which is no longer used in recent versions of Delphi's help. A couple of versions ago, Embarcadero reverted back to the older HTML Help ( .CHM ) format. That is what ships with Seattle and Berlin. That format is not compatible (or even related) to the help system that was used in XE7.

Delphi's help files aren't stagnant (and never have been), which is most likely why you have different versions of the component documentation. For instance, the namespace you mentioned is specific to XE7 (see embarcadero.rs_xe7 ).

In response to the question in your comment below: You can't incorporate HTML Help files into the IDE's documentation to provide context sensitive help either, as far as I can tell.

Answer 2

You could use my Delphi7Help4Bds expert and have eg Shift+F1 open the help file of your component. Not as nice as having it integrated into the global search but it would work.

There is also CHM Aggregator a free tool for merging CHM files. I have not tried it but it might allow you to simply merge several CHM files into one so it will work with the Delphi 10.1 help system.