Are there any application code-reading tools available?

[RHGrace]

Since my query about BugHunter went unanswered, I thought I'd try again from a different angle. I need a tool that shows code associated with a screen, button, or command in the application when you use F1 or the CSH "?" on the screen/button/command. Instead of generating map IDs in the Help and passing them to the developer, we get the map ID number generated in the code and add it to the Help. I need something that shows the code for each specific app item to check the accuracy of these numbers. (The WinHelp BugHunter did that, but for some reason the HTML Help BugHunter does not.) Does anyone have experience with such a tool?

Lacona

[Captiv8r]

Hi there

You said the WinHelp Bughunter works? If so, then why not continue to use it? I'm thinking that from the application standpoint, it's simply sending a MapID, no?

I know the call to a CHM is likely different, but if all you are looking for is the MapID...

Cheers... Rick

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[RHGrace]

Rick, that sounds like a great solution...except that the app now calls up the HTML Help and, for some mysterious reason, neither the RH for Word nor the RH HTML BugHunter works with the app now. At the moment, I'm using a previous version of the app that calls up the WinHelp in order to document map IDs. However, there are now new screens in the app, and we need something to get those IDs. A tool that captures the code for the specific app item would be great, so I wouldn't need to search through all the app code.

Cheers,

Lacona

[MergeThis]

Can't your developers compile a map file for you? Or they might be able to customize something for you.

One of our peeps put together a little utility that provides a top-down listing when we press Ctrl+Shift+F1 (form, tab, grid, control).

Good luck,

Leon

[RHGrace]

Leon,

They do have a list of map ID numbers, but for some reason it isn't complete. Also, the names associated with the numbers are code names and it's difficult to know exactly what in the app some of them refer to. Finally, the developer often uses makes several specific screens from a generic one, so I cannot determine just from that list which specific screens relate to the ID number. I might ask if he can write a script for me that would show the code, though. That's a good idea.

Thanks,

Lacona

[Pete_Lees]

Hi, Grace,

Microsoft's HTML Help Workshop application provides a facility with which you can view each API call that is sent in response to a request for context-sensitive help. To access this, click View > HTML Help Messages.

Whether this works any better than the facilities provided by RoboHelp, I don't know. In my experience, the HTML Help Workshop feature is a bit hit-or-miss, especially when handling context help calls from many modern applications.

Pete