Talk:Microsoft Compiled HTML Help

Development applications

Compiled HTML Help files can be created in other applications, such as PowerCHM. HTML Help Workshop is not the only application capable of creation of this type of document. Adraeus 04:57, July 27, 2005 (UTC)

While many HATs can create CHMs, I don't know that any can create a true CHM without using the underlying HTML Help Workshop engine - available only from Microsoft, but freely available to general users and software developers.

Year of appearance

Does anyone know when was CHM launched by MS? (the year)

For a history of Microsoft's Help engine development, see Rob Chandler's excellent site at: Helpware.net

Required DLLs

A chm file that opens in my machine, doesnt open in my colleague's. So I want to know, which are the required DLLs for CHM.

unix lib chm

In ubuntu it's libchm-bin instead of chmlib-bin. Is this only for ubuntu or...?--NESFreak 15:28, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

True for Debian too Optimix 00:51, 6 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

chm on MacOSX: chmtools package not included in Fink

The chmtools are not included in Fink. I could not find an indication they ever were. The only available version of the tools are available as CVS only, and therefore cannot be installed by everyday users.

I haven't tried MacPorts yet, but search indicates a similar situation.

In short, it seems there is no way to dump .chm files on MacOSX.

I think the article covers pretty everything you would want to know, except for fink on Mac. I don't have a Mac available at the moment, but a search gives you right, there is no chmtools package [1]. However, see this guide to build xchm. Cheers, --Ben ^T/_C 09:28, 15 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

7Zip also decompresses CHM files

7Zip (open source) also decompresses CHM files, so it might be worth a mention in the article. 72.200.152.234 14:36, 14 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In Windows, the suggested method to extract all files "hh.exe -decompile extracted filename.chm" only yields a xyz.hhc file and the corresponding folder xyz (which contains all the html, graphic, css, etc files). But when I open that same CHM with 7Zip, I also get the following files and folders:

Files:
# IDXHDR
# ITBITS
# STRINGS
# SYSTEM
# TOPICS
# URLSTR
# URLTBL
# WINDOWS
# FIFTI~1
# OBJINST

Folders:
$ WWAssociativeLinks
$ WWKeywordLinks

So it is correct for the article to state: "This will decompress all files embedded in filename.chm to folder extracted." when perhaps it is better to replace 'all files' with 'all html files'? 72.200.152.234 15:14, 14 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Article name

I can't find a reference for the name "Compressed" help. Microsoft appears to consistently call it "Compiled" help (see this API intro, for example) or use your favorite search engine and compare hits. Please correct me if I'm wrong; otherwise, I'll move the article. Matchups 10:46, 16 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]