Link to a specific topic in a chm file from Word

Report · May 04, 2009

Hi,

How do I link to a specific topic in a chm file from Word? I can link to the chm but can't work out how to get it to open to a specific page. I have tried #filename and \filename at the end of the path but neither works.

Thanks for any assistance.

Emily

Report · May 05, 2009

Hi Emily

I think this is what you need:

CHMToBeOpened.chm::/PathToTopicInsideCHM/TopicName.htm

Cheers... Rick

Report · May 05, 2009

Hi Rick,

Thanks for responding.

I must be doing something wrong, as I still can't get it to work.

This is the full path copied from the .chmis: N:\TEAM\Docteam\Working_Help\HiPort3\b111all.chm::\b111all\OptionalModules.htm

When I put this path in the Address field of the Hyperlink window in Word, the link does not work.

What do I need to change?

Thanks

Emily

Report · May 05, 2009

Hi there

If I'm reading that correctly, N: is likely referring to a network location.

Click here to see why CHM files have problems from network locations.

Cheers... Rick

Report · May 05, 2009

Yes, N is a network directory, but I am not sure that is the issue. I can open the .chm file no problems using: N:\TEAM\Docteam\Working_Help\HiPort3\b111all.chm

It is just when I try to add on a specific page that it doesn't open.

And if it was a network issues then shouldn't it work fine on my C drive because it doesn't.

Thanks

Emily

Report · May 05, 2009

Hi Emily

Whether it works correctly on your C drive depends on how it arrived there.

Click here to see what you may need to do

Cheers... Rick

Report · May 05, 2009

Nope, that's not it either! 🙂

Doesn't matter, it is no big deal. We will just tell people we can only

link to the home page of the required .chm file.

Report · May 06, 2009

You might have misunderstood the network issue.

First, the "N:" indicates a network drive mapping ID specific to your machine (File > My Computer > Map Network Drive).

If another user has no access to the same network, with the identical drive mapping, how can their machine access that link?

Second, the MS Windows security restrictions on .chm files are very real.

Third, when your users learn that your explanation is contrived, at best (and they will eventually), your organization's credibility will take a serious hit.

Good luck,

Leon

Report · May 06, 2009

I didn't find your reply helpful or friendly Leon.

You know nothing about me or my organisation.

I have been using both N drive (which everyone in the office has access to) and my C drive to test how to do this so I can inform people how to go about it. I can't get it to work. I can open the chm from either drive, not just a specific topic.

I am well aware that the security restrcitions are real as I have dealt with these for both internal and external clients.

I will be informing anyone who wants to link from a Word document to a specifc topic that it can be done, however I personally have not been able to get it to work.

Report · May 06, 2009

Perhaps see if this is any help. You might need the ms-its: or mk@MSITStore: syntax. Although I think I remember reading somewhere that by design this opens the single topic in a browser window, rather than the HTMLHelp Viewer.

http://www.helpware.net/htmlhelp/linktochm.htm

Report · May 06, 2009

Thank you very much Amebr!

Adding mk:@MSITStore: allows me to open the required topic in a web browser, which is better than what I had before.

Really appreciate your help.

Report · May 07, 2009

The fact that I know nothing about you or your organisation is exactly the reason why I provided a more pedantic reply than I normally would.

It's always a balancing act in these forums to try and determine a new forum member's (in your case, 12 posts since Feb 2, 2006) level of expertise in RH source/output, networks, third-party apps, authorship, etc. If I aimed low in your case, my apologies. Going forward, I'll let other, more friendly forum members address any of your postings.

Good luck,

Leon

Report · May 07, 2009

Hi, Emily,

I've had good results by using Paul O'Rear's HelpAPI VBA module to pass Help calls from a Word document to a .chm file. Using this module, you can pass context integers, topic file names, index entries, and more to the .chm file.

http://www.helpfulsolutions.com

Pete

Link to a specific topic in a chm file from Word

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