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May 12, 2008
Question

Can't find MS HTML Help Worshop

  • May 12, 2008
  • 2 replies
  • 707 views
Posted this elsewhere too; recently re-installed RoboHelp 7, but can’t compile classic chm Help file, says it “can’t find the Microsoft HTML Help workshop”, even though it is in Programs Files, tried re-installing Workshop, but says I have a higher version (1.4) already installed, tried re-installing I.E. 7, but although RoboHelp now says it generated the chm, I can’t find it.

When I do find a chm file, Windows says I should associate the chm file type with a program in Folder Options. When I select the HTML Workshop to open the file, nothing happens. In fact, old chm files that used to open instantly, no longer appear. So, I reboot. Now old chm files open, in Help Workshop, but they are gobbldie-gook text.

Que pasa? What’s going on?
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    2 replies

    May 12, 2008
    OK, ran both, reboot, clicked on MS Dictionary, but it opened in Help Workshop, went to Folder Options and now there is a choice between the Help Workshop and an executable, choose the executable and everything looks fine, compiled my project and it works and views, das gut, danka, now on to the next 20 questions!
    Participating Frequently
    May 12, 2008
    Hi, Colin,

    > tried re-installing Workshop, but says I have a higher version (1.4)
    > already installed

    That message is misleading because it is referring to the HTML Help viewer components rather than the compiler components. The HTML Help Workshop installation package includes an old copy of hhupd.exe, the utility for upgrading hh.exe, hhctrl.ocx, and the other viewer components. However, hhupd.exe is blocked on all modern (post-98) versions of Windows, where upgrading the viewer components is possible using the O/S service packs and critical updates only. In reality, your computer probably has much more recent versions of these components than the ones in hhupd.exe.

    > When I do find a chm file, Windows says I should associate the chm file
    > type with a program in Folder Options

    You could try running the "CHM File Association Fix" available from this site:

    http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

    And for good measure, run MJ's Help Diagnostics to ensure that all the HTML Help-related components are in place and properly registered.

    http://helpware.net/downloads/index.htm#MJs

    Pete