Microsoft HTML Help 1.4
Archived: 2026-04-05 20:40:47 UTC
Microsoft HTML Help is the standard help system for the Windows platform. Authors can use HTML Help to
create online help for a software application or to create content for a multimedia title or Web site. Developers can
use the HTML Help API to program a host application or hook up context-sensitive help to an application.
As an information delivery system, HTML Help is suited for a wide range of applications, including training
guides, interactive books, and electronic newsletters, as well as help for software applications.
HTML Help offers some distinct advantages over standard HTML, such as the ability to implement a combined
table of contents and index and the use of keywords for advanced hyperlinking capability. The HTML Help
compiler (part of the HTML Help Workshop) makes it possible to compress HTML, graphic, and other files into a
relatively small compiled help (.chm) file, which can then be distributed with a software application, or
downloaded from the Web.
HTML Help consists of an online Help Viewer, related help components, and help authoring tools from Microsoft
Corporation. The Help Viewer uses the underlying components of Microsoft Internet Explorer to display help
content. It supports HTML, ActiveX, Java, scripting languages (JScript, and Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting
Edition), and HTML image formats (.jpeg, .gif, and .png files). The help authoring tool, HTML Help Workshop,
provides an easy-to-use system for creating and managing help projects and their related files.
[!Important]
Please note that the latest version of the HTML Help technology is 1.4, as is the SDK. The latest
version of the HTML Help Workshop download is 1.3. As of March 2012 there is no HTML Help
Workshop 1.4.
Topic Description
HTML Help and Windows 7
This topic describes an important safety feature added to HTML Help in
Windows 7.
Designing a Help System The topics in this section describe how to design a help system.
Creating Help The topics in this section describe how to get started creating help.
Using HTML Help on the
Web
You can use the functionality available in HTML Help to create powerful,
dynamic websites.
HTML Help References This section contains HTML Help reference topics.
HTML Help Tasks
This section contains a complete list of basic tasks. You will combine these
tasks in various ways as you design and create your help system.
https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/windows/desktop/htmlhelp/microsoft-html-help-1-4-sdk
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Topic Description
HTML Help Frequently
Asked Questions
This topic contains the answers to several frequently asked questions.
Microsoft HTML Help
Downloads
All HTML Help downloads are now available from the Microsoft.com
Download Center.
About New Features in this
Release
This version of Microsoft HTML Help contains several new features.
About New Documentation
for this Release
The Microsoft HTML Help 1.3 release contains the following new and
updated documentation components.
About Converting Existing
Help Projects
Microsoft HTML Help is the next-generation online authoring system from
Microsoft Corporation and is based on Microsoft WinHelp 4.0.
The HTML Help
Components
HTML Help is made up of several components.
HTML Help End-User
License Agreement
END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE
HTML Help Downloads
Get the latest version of HTML Help here.
HTML Help MVP Program
Learn about Help MVPs and other online resources that are available for Help authors and developers.
Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/windows/desktop/htmlhelp/microsoft-html-help-1-4-sdk
https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/windows/desktop/htmlhelp/microsoft-html-help-1-4-sdk
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