Thanks Binu and everyone else for all the advice, the HtmlHelp API worked
just like I wanted it to (once I knew what I was doing).  The application I
am developing is for novice users (a fair proportion have never used a
computer before), and, believe it or not, they don't know how to use F1 for
help, so they need a nice obvious button to click.  This should work fine.

Coral

Subject: Re: HTML Help
From: "Binu V.Thayamkery" <binut@y...>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 07:11:14 -0700 (PDT)
X-Message-Number: 20

'HTML Help conts
Public Const HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC = &H0
Public Const HH_SET_WIN_TYPE = &H4
Public Const HH_GET_WIN_TYPE = &H5
Public Const HH_GET_WIN_HANDLE = &H6
Public Const HH_DISPLAY_TEXT_POPUP = &HE
' Display string resource ID or
' text in a pop-up window.
Public Const HH_HELP_CONTEXT = &HF
' Display mapped numeric value in
' dwData.
Public Const HH_TP_HELP_CONTEXTMENU = &H10
' Text pop-up help, similar to
' WinHelp's HELP_CONTEXTMENU.
Public Const HH_TP_HELP_WM_HELP = &H11
' text pop-up help, similar to
' WinHelp's HELP_WM_HELP.
Public Declare Function HtmlHelp Lib "hhctrl.ocx"
Alias "HtmlHelpA" _
(ByVal hwndCaller As Long, ByVal pszFile As String, _
ByVal uCommand As Long, ByVal dwData As Long) As Long



you can call like this

hwndHelp = HtmlHelp(hWnd, "helpfile.chm",
HH_DISPLAY_TOPIC, 0)



Binu

--- Raed Gharzeddine <raedg2000@h...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Inorder to open a help file when the user click on a
> help button you must
> use the common dialog control. This control has a
> method call showhelp.
> however, I think the common dialog control does not
> allow you to open .chm
> help files. It works only as I remember with .hlp
> files.
>
> Raed Gharzeddine
> System Developer
> Consolidated Contractors Int'l. Company
>
>
> >From: coral@j...
> >Reply-To: "professional vb" <pro_vb@p...>
> >To: "professional vb" <pro_vb@p...>
> >Subject: [pro_vb] HTML Help
> >Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 03:20:44
> >
> >Can someone tell me how to call HTML Help from my
> program.  I have
> >examples telling me how to set the helpfile name
> and use the HelpContextID
> >for controls, but what I want to do is call a .chm
> help file when the user
> >clicks on the help button.
> >
> >I have found a reference to the API call HTMLHelp,
> but I can't find a
> >definition of the command constants.
> >
> >Coral
> >
>