How to link .CHM to windows application

[aagarwal8@gmail.com]

Hi,

I have a windows applicationm which can open seversal forms from a
main form. All the forms that are opened, from main form (as well the
main form) have a link to the help (.chm) file.

I am using System.Diagnost ics.Process.Sta rt(<help_file_p ath>) to
display the help file. But the problem is, there are as many help
files opened, as many time i clicked on the link.

Is there any way i can ensure that only 1 instance of the Help file is
opened.

Regards,
Ankit!

[Peter Duniho]

Re: How to link .CHM to windows application

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:47:56 -0700, <aagarwal8@gmai l.comwrote:

[...]
Is there any way i can ensure that only 1 instance of the Help file is
opened.

Have you tried using the Help class, with the Help.ShowHelp() method,
instead of starting a new process each time?

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.help.showhelp.aspx

Pete

[aagarwal8@gmail.com]

Re: How to link .CHM to windows application

Thanks Pete...it solved my problem.

However, thrs another problem with this arrangement now. The control/
form which i pass in the ShowHelp method, seems to have become the
ownwer of the help file. i am not able to bring that form/control
infront of the help file. Any ideas how it can be done?

Regards,
Ankit!

[Peter Duniho]

Re: How to link .CHM to windows application

On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:25:58 -0700, <aagarwal8@gmai l.comwrote:

Thanks Pete...it solved my problem.
>
However, thrs another problem with this arrangement now. The control/
form which i pass in the ShowHelp method, seems to have become the
ownwer of the help file. i am not able to bring that form/control
infront of the help file. Any ideas how it can be done?

Hmmm...I dunno. How are you using the class? What's your exact OS and
..NET version? Have you tried it on any other?

I don't have that issue, but I admit I haven't done a lot of testing on
different platforms. I can tell you that calling Help.ShowHelp() with my
main form as the parent works fine for me. The help window shows up,
hosted in my process, and it's non-modal (i.e. I can still use my main
form).

That's using .NET 2.0 on XP SP2.

I haven't used the Help class enough to say what might explain the
difference. But maybe there's a way to affect whether the help is
displayed modally or not. I played with some of the settings in HTML Help
Workshop and wasn't able to reproduce the modal behavior. But maybe
there's something in the CHM file that's controlling that.

I'm not an expert on implementing help files, so I can't really say. I
can assure you that in at least some cases, it's possible to show the help
modelessly. :)

Pete

[aagarwal8@gmail.com]

Re: How to link .CHM to windows application

Pete, my help window is not opening modally. I am able to work on the
main form, but when i try to drag the main form over the help
window..it wont do it. it will simply get under the help file window.
Not sure whats the reason.

Regards,
Ankit!

[Peter Duniho]

Re: How to link .CHM to windows application

On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:36:54 -0700, <aagarwal8@gmai l.comwrote:

Pete, my help window is not opening modally. I am able to work on the
main form, but when i try to drag the main form over the help
window..it wont do it. it will simply get under the help file window.
Not sure whats the reason.

Ahh...well, that's because the help window is a top-most window. AFAIK,
this is how in-process help is always displayed. I'm not aware of any way
to change that.

If there is, Google may be of help there. I'm afraid I don't have any
ideas myself.

Sorry...

Pete