Links to external .CHM with sub-folders

[Juliette Sandles]

Hi,

I'm trying to create hyperlinks from one topic to another in an external .CHM file.
Both .CHM files are in the same folder.
Some links work, and some don't.

I think I've tracked it down to the fact that the links that work are in the root of the \Content folder in my target .CHM.
The links that don't work are in sub-folders of the \Content folder. (E.g. \Content\Folder A\Folder B\TargetTopic.chm)

I'm creating my hyperlinks in the usual way (highlight the text, click the Hyperlink button on the toolbar).
Then I choose 'External Topic', and type 'Target.chm::/TargetTopic.htm' in the box on the right.
As I said, this works when 'TargetTopic.htm' in not in a sub-folder.

I've tried all kinds of different formats for putting the full path in for my topics in sub-folders, but nothing seems to work.

(I've also noticed, that sometimes when I go back in to edit the hyperlink, the 'type' has changed from 'External Topic' to 'Website', which seems odd, but doesn't appear to have any effect??)

Can anyone tell me what the correct format is for entering paths with more than one folder in please?

Thanks,

Juliette.

[Pete Lees]

Juliette,

You need to include the CHM internal path to the target topics in the links that you make to them. For example, if a topic is compiled into an "HTML" folder within the CHM, you would code the hyperlink like this:

Code: Select all

<A HREF="ms-its:filename.chm::/HTML/topic.htm">Click here</a>

To ensure that you're specifying exactly the right path information:

1. Open the target CHM.
2. Display the required topic.
3. Right-click it and then, on the context menu, select Properties.

In the resulting properties sheet, you can copy the path information out of the Address field.

Pete

[Juliette Sandles]

Hi Pete,

Thank you so much for your reply! It's worked. I now have fully functioning links.

I did think I had already tried what you suggested, but when I used your neat trick of finding the correct path directly from the target topic, I realised that I'd added 'Content/' into the path, and that wasn't necessary.

Thanks again,

Juliette.

[Rehmen]

Juliette,

You need to include the CHM internal path to the target topics in the links that you make to them. For example, if a topic is compiled into an "HTML" folder within the CHM, you would code the hyperlink like this:

Code: Select all

<A HREF="ms-its:filename.chm::/HTML/topic.htm">Click here</a>

Pete

Hi,
i have question about "ms-its:" prefix. Does it have any sense for .chm files stored in the same folder on local drive? Or it is just for avoiding a browser to download the .chm from http?

Michal

[Pete Lees]

Hi, Michal,

The "ms-its:" protocol is one of several protocols that you can use to link to files compiled into an HTML Help file, whether stored locally or not. Other similar protocols are "mk:@MSITStore:" and "its:". In fact, they all appear to be optional nowadays, as mature versions of HTML Help no longer require them. For example, the following hyperlink should work equally well:

Code: Select all

<A HREF="filename.chm::/HTML/topic.htm">Click here</a>

The only requirement is that Windows can find the target help file. For this to happen, the target file must be stored in at least one of these locations:

• The current folder (typically, in the same folder as the help file that contains the hyperlink to it)
• The \Windows or \Windows\System32 folder
• Any folder that is specified with the PATH environment variable
• A folder whose path is specified under the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\HTML Help

For more information on the HTML Help protocols, see:

• Microsoft Knowledge Base article 235226, "HTML Help URL Protocols" (a little out-of-date)
• HTML Help 1.x FAQ, "HH.EXE Params"
• HTML Help Workshop help topic, "To link to a topic in a compiled help file from a Web page or topic file"

Pete

[Rehmen]

Hi Pete,

thank you

Michal