DOCUMENT:Q191174  09-OCT-1999  [foxpro]
TITLE   :HOWTO: Create a Custom HTML Help Viewer in Visual FoxPro
PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro
PROD/VER:WINDOWS:6.0
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbcode kbHTMLHelp kbvfp600

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how you can create a custom HTML help viewer with Visual
FoxPro.

With an understanding of how HTML help URL syntax works combined with the
Microsoft WebBrowser control, it is possible to create a relatively simple form
in Visual FoxPro that functions as an HTML help viewer.

MORE INFORMATION
================

HTML help files are stored as compressed HTML source in .chm files. Specifically
for Visual FoxPro, this file is called FoxHelp.chm, and it contains all of the
HTML source and images for the Visual FoxPro help topics. Since the Visual
FoxPro help is based on HTML, it can be viewed in Internet Explorer much like
any other HTML document. The following code uses the Visual FoxPro HyperLink
baseclass to launch Internet Explorer and display the main Visual FoxPro help
topic:

      oMyHyperLink = NewObject("Hyperlink")
      cHelpPath = substr(Home(5), 1, Len(Home(5))-8)
      cVFPHelpTopicPath = "mk:@MSITStore:" + cHelpPath + ;
          "FOXHELP.CHM::/html/vfpstartpage.htm"
      oMyHyperLink.NavigateTo(cVFPHelpTopicPath)

The following sample code creates a form that contains the Microsoft WebBrowser
control, and it automatically navigates to the Visual FoxPro help topic when it
is launched. This form does not provide any navigation capabilities outside of
those offered within the help topic. However, using the WebBrowser control's
extensive object model, it is possible to provide this functionality.

Sample Code

      PUBLIC oMyHelpViewer

      oMyHelpViewer = NewObject("myhtmlhelpviewer")
      oMyHelpViewer.Show

      DEFINE CLASS myhtmlhelpviewer AS form
         Top = 0
         Left = 0
         Height = 454
         Width = 633
         DoCreate = .T.
         BorderStyle = 2
         Caption = "Custom HTML Help Viewer"
         MaxButton = .F.
         WindowState = 0
         Name = "Form1"

         ADD OBJECT olecontrol1 AS olecontrol WITH ;
            Top = 10, ;
            Left = 16, ;
            Height = 433, ;
            Width = 601, ;
            Name = "Olecontrol1", ;
            OLEClass = "Shell.Explorer.2"

         PROCEDURE olecontrol1.Refresh
            NODEFAULT
         ENDPROC

         PROCEDURE olecontrol1.Init
            cHelpPath = SubSTR(Home(5), 1, Len(Home(5))-8)
            cVFPHelpTopicPath = "mk:@MSITStore:" + cHelpPath + ;
                   "FOXHELP.CHM::/html/vfpstartpage.htm"
            This.Navigate(cVFPHelpTopicPath)
         ENDPROC
      ENDDEFINE

It is important to recognize that although this HTML help viewer allows you to
view HTML help topics, it will not provide all of the features and functionality
that the Microsoft HTML Help Viewer provides, and there are certain HTML help
features that will not work at all when viewing help topics using the WebBrowser
control.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbcode kbHTMLHelp kbvfp600 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP600
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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