Unable to launch help file.

Question

I am running a fully-uddated version of Windows 11 Professional Version 10.0.22000 Build 22000, and when I try to view a ".chm" file in 'HTML Help Workshop' by clicking on the button with glasses image, or I click on the .chm file in Windows Explorer, an application runs and display the text:

"Make sure the web address //ieframe.dll/dnserrordiagoff.htm# is correct"

This is the same issue described at the link further below, although I don't know that it is due to the update mentioned.

Applying recent Windows updates appears to prevent HTML help files from displaying correctly when accessed remotely (UNC & network drive) RRS feed
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/f8875952-25ac-4c27-b72b-a55f960e5e64/applying-recent-windows-updates-appears-to-prevent-html-help-files-from-displaying-correctly-when?forum=winservergen

I have looked at the solution for Windows 7 on this website proposed at the following link.

Cannot Open CHM Files
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/3cd184ca-6a16-4039-a8a0-a2538613d604/cannot-open-chm-files?forum=w7itprogeneral

I wish to put am MFC applicaton on the Windows store. It was a lot of work creating it. It has an executable and six DLLs. I wanted to include help, but I obviousy won't make security changes to user's systems during the install of my program.

I'm not sure what to do.

I also see a similar request here from 2011.

Do I have to drop HTML Help, and if so, what is the alternative?

Help .chm files not opening
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/c83d822e-57c9-4ee0-a22a-42fba57c784d/help-chm-files-not-opening?forum=windowscompatibility

Note, the HTMP Help inside of HTML Workshop does work.

Any fix where I have to change user's systems innapropriate obviously isn't a solution I can use.

My app is in C++ and uses the MFC Framework. I did not use dotnet. I added dotnet tags because three tags are required, but not other tags were available.

Answer 1

Viorel-1 - Thank you. Yes, that works.

I also copied a chm file into the same directory as the chm files I built, and it still works.

That tells me something is wrong with the chm file I created.

That helps. Thanks. I don't have to worry about installation!

I still have to figure out what is wrong with my chm file. I'll do more reading to see if I can figure out what is missing or wrong.

Answer 2

I am still unable to make a help file (.chm file) that I can click on. I'm not sure why.

I'm not able to launch that file calling the four-argument HtmlHelp function and linking to htmlhelp.lib. I get a message box stating failure.

In my MFC App, I see there is a CWinApp::HtmlHelp function that takes two arguments, however, The documentation states to call some functions to enable it, but not enough detail for how to use it.

I would have liked to use HtmlHelp, but I'm starting to lean towards just launching the web browser with HTML files. I don't like that solution as much, because that will require installing many HTML files and image files.