HelpProvider.SetHelpString(Control, String) Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.Windows.Forms

Assembly:: System.Windows.Forms.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Specifies the Help string associated with the specified control.

public:
 virtual void SetHelpString(System::Windows::Forms::Control ^ ctl, System::String ^ helpString);

public virtual void SetHelpString (System.Windows.Forms.Control ctl, string helpString);

public virtual void SetHelpString (System.Windows.Forms.Control ctl, string? helpString);

abstract member SetHelpString : System.Windows.Forms.Control * string -> unit
override this.SetHelpString : System.Windows.Forms.Control * string -> unit

Public Overridable Sub SetHelpString (ctl As Control, helpString As String)

Parameters

ctl: Control

A Control with which to associate the Help string.

helpString: String

The Help string associated with the control.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates using the HelpProvider class to display context-sensitive Help on a form containing four address fields. The example uses the SetHelpString method to set the Help ToolTip text. When you use the context-sensitive Help button and click the Help cursor on an address field, the Help ToolTip appears with the specified text. When you press the F1 key with the focus in an address field, the mspaint.chm Help file is displayed because the HelpNamespace property has been set to mspaint.chm. The SetShowHelp method is called for each address control to identify that it has Help content available.

#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
public ref class Form1: public System::Windows::Forms::Form
{
private:
   System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ addressTextBox;
   System::Windows::Forms::Label ^ label2;
   System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ cityTextBox;
   System::Windows::Forms::Label ^ label3;
   System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ stateTextBox;
   System::Windows::Forms::TextBox^ zipTextBox;
   System::Windows::Forms::HelpProvider^ helpProvider1;
   System::Windows::Forms::Label ^ helpLabel;

public:
   Form1()
   {
      this->addressTextBox = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox;
      this->helpLabel = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Label;
      this->label2 = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Label;
      this->cityTextBox = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox;
      this->label3 = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::Label;
      this->stateTextBox = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox;
      this->zipTextBox = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::TextBox;
      
      // Help Label
      this->helpLabel->BorderStyle = System::Windows::Forms::BorderStyle::Fixed3D;
      this->helpLabel->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 8, 80 );
      this->helpLabel->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 272, 72 );
      this->helpLabel->Text = "Click the Help button in the title bar, then click a control to see a Help tooltip for the control.  Click on a control and press F1 to invoke the Help system with a sample Help file.";
      
      // Address Label
      this->label2->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 16, 8 );
      this->label2->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 100, 16 );
      this->label2->Text = "Address:";
      
      // Comma Label
      this->label3->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 136, 56 );
      this->label3->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 16, 16 );
      this->label3->Text = ", ";
      
      // Create the HelpProvider.
      this->helpProvider1 = gcnew System::Windows::Forms::HelpProvider;
      
      // Tell the HelpProvider what controls to provide help for, and
      // what the help String* is.
      this->helpProvider1->SetShowHelp( this->addressTextBox, true );
      this->helpProvider1->SetHelpString( this->addressTextBox, "Enter the street address in this text box." );
      this->helpProvider1->SetShowHelp( this->cityTextBox, true );
      this->helpProvider1->SetHelpString( this->cityTextBox, "Enter the city here." );
      this->helpProvider1->SetShowHelp( this->stateTextBox, true );
      this->helpProvider1->SetHelpString( this->stateTextBox, "Enter the state in this text box." );
      this->helpProvider1->SetShowHelp( this->zipTextBox, true );
      this->helpProvider1->SetHelpString( this->zipTextBox, "Enter the zip code here." );
      
      // Set what the Help file will be for the HelpProvider.
      this->helpProvider1->HelpNamespace = "mspaint.chm";
      
      // Sets properties for the different address fields.
      // Address TextBox
      this->addressTextBox->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 16, 24 );
      this->addressTextBox->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 264, 20 );
      this->addressTextBox->TabIndex = 0;
      this->addressTextBox->Text = "";
      
      // City TextBox
      this->cityTextBox->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 16, 48 );
      this->cityTextBox->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 120, 20 );
      this->cityTextBox->TabIndex = 3;
      this->cityTextBox->Text = "";
      
      // State TextBox
      this->stateTextBox->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 152, 48 );
      this->stateTextBox->MaxLength = 2;
      this->stateTextBox->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 32, 20 );
      this->stateTextBox->TabIndex = 5;
      this->stateTextBox->Text = "";
      
      // Zip TextBox
      this->zipTextBox->Location = System::Drawing::Point( 192, 48 );
      this->zipTextBox->Size = System::Drawing::Size( 88, 20 );
      this->zipTextBox->TabIndex = 6;
      this->zipTextBox->Text = "";
      
      // Add the controls to the form.
      array<System::Windows::Forms::Control^>^temp0 = {this->zipTextBox,this->stateTextBox,this->label3,this->cityTextBox,this->label2,this->helpLabel,this->addressTextBox};
      this->Controls->AddRange( temp0 );
      
      // Set the form to look like a dialog, and show the HelpButton.
      this->FormBorderStyle = System::Windows::Forms::FormBorderStyle::FixedDialog;
      this->HelpButton = true;
      this->MaximizeBox = false;
      this->MinimizeBox = false;
      this->ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size( 292, 160 );
      this->Text = "Help Provider Demonstration";
   }

};


[STAThread]
int main()
{
   Application::Run( gcnew Form1 );
}

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;

public class Form1 : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
    private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox addressTextBox;
    private System.Windows.Forms.Label label2;
    private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox cityTextBox;
    private System.Windows.Forms.Label label3;
    private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox stateTextBox;
    private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox zipTextBox;
    private System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider helpProvider1;
    private System.Windows.Forms.Label helpLabel;

    [STAThread]
    static void Main() 
    {
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }

    public Form1()
    {
        this.addressTextBox = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
        this.helpLabel = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
        this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
        this.cityTextBox = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
        this.label3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
        this.stateTextBox = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
        this.zipTextBox = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
        
        // Help Label
        this.helpLabel.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
        this.helpLabel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 80);
        this.helpLabel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(272, 72);
        this.helpLabel.Text = "Click the Help button in the title bar, then click a control " + 
            "to see a Help tooltip for the control.  Click on a control and press F1 to invoke " +
            "the Help system with a sample Help file.";

        // Address Label
        this.label2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(16, 8);
        this.label2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(100, 16);
        this.label2.Text = "Address:";

        // Comma Label
        this.label3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(136, 56);
        this.label3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(16, 16);
        this.label3.Text = ",";

        // Create the HelpProvider.
        this.helpProvider1 = new System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider();

        // Tell the HelpProvider what controls to provide help for, and
        // what the help string is.
        this.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(this.addressTextBox, true);
        this.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(this.addressTextBox, "Enter the street address in this text box.");

        this.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(this.cityTextBox, true);
        this.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(this.cityTextBox, "Enter the city here.");

        this.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(this.stateTextBox, true);
        this.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(this.stateTextBox, "Enter the state in this text box.");

        this.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(this.zipTextBox, true);
        this.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(this.zipTextBox, "Enter the zip code here.");

        // Set what the Help file will be for the HelpProvider.
        this.helpProvider1.HelpNamespace = "mspaint.chm";

        // Sets properties for the different address fields.

        // Address TextBox
        this.addressTextBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(16, 24);
        this.addressTextBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(264, 20);
        this.addressTextBox.TabIndex = 0;
        this.addressTextBox.Text = "";

        // City TextBox
        this.cityTextBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(16, 48);
        this.cityTextBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(120, 20);
        this.cityTextBox.TabIndex = 3;
        this.cityTextBox.Text = "";

        // State TextBox
        this.stateTextBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(152, 48);
        this.stateTextBox.MaxLength = 2;
        this.stateTextBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(32, 20);
        this.stateTextBox.TabIndex = 5;
        this.stateTextBox.Text = "";

        // Zip TextBox
        this.zipTextBox.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(192, 48);
        this.zipTextBox.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(88, 20);
        this.zipTextBox.TabIndex = 6;
        this.zipTextBox.Text = "";

        // Add the controls to the form.
        this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {
                                    this.zipTextBox, this.stateTextBox,
                                    this.label3, this.cityTextBox,
                                    this.label2, this.helpLabel,
                                    this.addressTextBox});

        // Set the form to look like a dialog, and show the HelpButton.    
        this.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog;
        this.HelpButton = true;
        this.MaximizeBox = false;
        this.MinimizeBox = false;
        this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 160);
        this.Text = "Help Provider Demonstration";
    }
}

Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms

Public Class Form1
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
    Private addressTextBox As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Private label2 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Private cityTextBox As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Private label3 As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Private stateTextBox As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Private zipTextBox As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Private helpProvider1 As System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider
    Private helpLabel As System.Windows.Forms.Label

    <STAThread()>  _
    Shared Sub Main()
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
    
    Public Sub New()
        Me.addressTextBox = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
        Me.helpLabel = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
        Me.label2 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
        Me.cityTextBox = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
        Me.label3 = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
        Me.stateTextBox = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
        Me.zipTextBox = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()

        ' Help Label
        Me.helpLabel.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 80)
        Me.helpLabel.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(272, 72)
        Me.helpLabel.TabIndex = 1
        Me.helpLabel.Text = "Click the Help button in the title bar, then click a control " & _
            "to see a Help tooltip for the control.  Click on a control and press F1 to invoke " & _
            "the Help system with a sample Help file."

        ' Address Label
        Me.label2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(16, 8)
        Me.label2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(100, 16)
        Me.label2.Text = "Address:"

        ' Comma Label
        Me.label3.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(136, 56)
        Me.label3.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(16, 16)
        Me.label3.Text = ","

        ' Creates the HelpProvider.
        Me.helpProvider1 = New System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider()

        ' Tell the HelpProvider what controls to provide Help for, and
        ' what the Help string is.
        Me.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(Me.addressTextBox, "Enter the street address in this text box.")
        Me.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(Me.addressTextBox, True)

        Me.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(Me.cityTextBox, "Enter the city here.")
        Me.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(Me.cityTextBox, True)

        Me.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(Me.stateTextBox, "Enter the state in this text box.")
        Me.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(Me.stateTextBox, True)

        Me.helpProvider1.SetHelpString(Me.zipTextBox, "Enter the zip code here.")
        Me.helpProvider1.SetShowHelp(Me.zipTextBox, True)

        ' Sets what the Help file will be for the HelpProvider.
        Me.helpProvider1.HelpNamespace = "mspaint.chm"

        ' Set properties for the different address fields.

        ' Address TextBox
        Me.addressTextBox.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(16, 24)
        Me.addressTextBox.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(264, 20)
        Me.addressTextBox.TabIndex = 0
        Me.addressTextBox.Text = ""


        ' City TextBox
        Me.cityTextBox.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(16, 48)
        Me.cityTextBox.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(120, 20)
        Me.cityTextBox.TabIndex = 3
        Me.cityTextBox.Text = ""

        ' State TextBox
        Me.stateTextBox.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(152, 48)
        Me.stateTextBox.MaxLength = 2
        Me.stateTextBox.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(32, 20)
        Me.stateTextBox.TabIndex = 5
        Me.stateTextBox.Text = ""

        ' Zip TextBox
        Me.zipTextBox.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(192, 48)
        Me.zipTextBox.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(88, 20)
        Me.zipTextBox.TabIndex = 6
        Me.zipTextBox.Text = ""

        ' Add the controls to the form.
        Me.Controls.AddRange(New System.Windows.Forms.Control() { Me.zipTextBox, _
                                       Me.stateTextBox, Me.label3, _
                                       Me.cityTextBox, Me.label2, _
                                       Me.helpLabel, Me.addressTextBox})

        ' Set the form to look like a dialog, and show the HelpButton.    
        Me.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog
        Me.HelpButton = True
        Me.MaximizeBox = False
        Me.MinimizeBox = False
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 160)
        Me.Text = "Help Provider Demonstration"

    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

The Help string that you specify in the helpString parameter is displayed in a pop-up window when the user presses the F1 key while the specified control has focus.

Applies to

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