WinHelp

A number of software tools can decompile a WinHelp file into its source documents: HPJ, CNT, RTF, BMP, and SHG.Depending on how it has launched and what settings the Help author chose, a WinHelp file opens either to its default topic, its table of contents, or its index.A topic in a WinHelp file opens in a separate window, in a size and initial position that the Help author may choose.Help authors can also create custom buttons to jump to specific topics or perform other actions.Single-clicking on a popup opens a small window with no menus, buttons, or scrollbars, sized to fit the text.Often, popups provide short definitions of key terms or other supplemental information about the main text.Depending on the Help author's preference, this feature may be a simple list of jumps under the heading See Also, or it may be a small button that, when clicked, brings up a dialog box displaying all the relevant topics.A rather security critical feature is that one can also include a DLL file containing custom code and associating it with WinHelp topics."[citation needed] The updated licensing agreement prohibits application developers from packaging the WinHelp libraries with their installers.This means that WinHelp manuals for legacy applications are not readable on a new Windows Vista (or higher version) installation.To read them, the end-user must obtain the 32-bit WinHelp viewer from Microsoft's website and manually install it.Although documentation can be maintained entirely in a vendor-specific presentation format such as WinHelp, it is more often the case that documentation must be published in multiple presentation formats at once: Microsoft Compiled HTML Help (CHM), WinHelp, HTML pages, Java Help, PDF, etc.[citation needed] Various presentation files thus produced (with WinHelp or other tools) contain consistent content because they were generated from the same source.
Filename extensionInternet media typeMicrosoftStandardDeveloper(s)Operating systemWindows VistaWindows 7Windows 8Windows 8.1Windows 3.0Windows 95Windows XPMicrosoft Compiled HTML HelpHelp systemproprietaryonline helpRich Text FormatWindows 10Windows NTWindows Server 2008Windows Server 2008 R2plain textTable of Contents (TOC)picture.bmp or .dibfootnotesitalicsRoboHelpbackendbuttonsunderlinedialog boxcontext-sensitive helpWineVDMJava HelpDocBookFrameMakerMicrosoft Help 2Microsoft Help ViewerINF HelpInformation Presentation FacilityMicrosoft Windows Help and Support CenterMicrosoft Windows componentsBooting processApp InstallerCommand PromptControl PanelDevice ManagerDirectX Diagnostic ToolDisk CleanupDrive OptimizerDriver VerifierEvent ViewerIExpressManagement ConsolePerformance MonitorPowerShellRecovery ConsoleResource MonitorSettingsSysprepSystem ConfigurationSystem File CheckerSystem InformationSystem Policy EditorSystem RestoreTask ManagerWindows Error ReportingWindows InkWindows InstallerWindows UpdateWindows Insider3D ViewerCalculatorCalendarCameraCharacter MapCity Art SearchClipchampCopilotFax and ScanFeedback HubGet HelpMagnifierMedia PlayerMessagingMobility CenterMovies & TVNarratorNotepadOneDriveOneNotePeoplePhone LinkPhotosQuick AssistRemote Desktop ConnectionSnipping ToolSpeech RecognitionSticky NotesVoice RecorderAction CenterAutoPlayAutoRunClearTypeExplorerSearchIFilterIndexing ServiceNamespaceSpecial folderStart menuTask ViewTaskbarWindows SpotlightWindows XP visual stylesServicesError ReportingMultimedia Class SchedulerService Control ManagerShadow CopyTask SchedulerWireless Zero ConfigurationFile systemsHard linkMount PointReparse pointServerActive DirectoryActive DRM ServicesDFS ReplicationDistributed Transaction CoordinatorDomainsFolder redirectionGroup PolicyHyper-VNetwork Access ProtectionPrint Services for UNIXRemote Desktop ServicesRemote Differential CompressionRemote Installation ServicesRoaming user profilesServer CoreSharePointSystem Resource ManagerWindows Deployment ServicesWindows Media ServicesArchitectureBoot ManagerConsoleDesktop Window ManagerEnhanced Write FilterGraphics Device InterfaceI/O request packetImaging FormatKernel Transaction ManagerLibrary filesLogical Disk ManagerMinWinNtoskrnl.exeObject ManagerOpen XML Paper SpecificationPortable ExecutableRegistryResource ProtectionSecurity Account ManagerServer Message BlockSystem Idle ProcessWinlogonWinUSBSecurity and MaintenanceAppLockerBitLockerCredential GuardData Execution PreventionDefenderFamily featuresKernel Patch ProtectionMandatory Integrity ControlProtected Media PathUser Account ControlUser Interface Privilege IsolationWindows FirewallCOMMAND.COMWindows Subsystem for LinuxActive ScriptingJScriptVBScriptActiveXActiveX DocumentCOM Structured storageOLE AutomationTransaction ServerDirectXNativeUniversal Windows PlatformWinAPIWindows Mixed RealityWindows RuntimeSolitaire CollectionChess TitansFreeCellHeartsHold 'EmInkBallPurble PlaceSolitaireSpider SolitaireTinkerActiveMovieAddress BookAnytime UpgradeBackup and RestoreCardfileCardSpaceCD PlayerContactsCortanaDesktop GadgetsDiagnosticsDriveSpaceDVD MakerEasy TransferEdge LegacyFood & DrinkGroove MusicHealth & FitnessHelp and Support CenterHyperTerminalImagingInternet ExplorerJournalMake CompatibleMedia CenterMeeting SpaceMessengerMobile Device CenterMovie MakerMSN Dial-upNetMeetingNTBackupOutlook ExpressPaint 3DPhone CompanionPhoto GalleryPhoto ViewerProgram ManagerSteps RecorderSyskeyTravelWordPadDesktop Cleanup WizardFile ProtectionGames for WindowsInterixMedia Control InterfaceMS-DOS 7Next-Generation Secure Computing BasePOSIX subsystemScanDiskVideo for WindowsVirtual DOS machineWindows on WindowsWindows Services for UNIXWindows SideShowWindows System Assessment ToolWindows To GoMicrosoft StoreDVD PlayerFile ManagerHover!MahjongMinesweeper