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Forum to discuss usage & tips for SalesLogix controls and other 3rd party ActiveX controls. View the code of conduct for posting guidelines.
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Using Helpfile for a custom help file
Posted: 25 Jun 07 1:16 PM
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I would like to use a help file I've created using RoboHelp for context sensitive help in forms I am developing in v7. I have tried various combinations of naming the help file in the forms HelpFile property, from the file name and extension, just the file name with no extension, the file name with the full path, etc. In the edit control, I have set the HelpContext property to 1 (a map ID in my help file), and the HelpType to htContext. I have placed my custom help file in the C:\Program Files\Saleslogix directory. I have mapped two topics in the help file to map ID's 1 and 2. If I leave blank the HelpFile property on the form, then it opens to the mapped help ID in the default SLX help file, not my custom file. But if I enter a file name in the HelpFile property of the form, nothing happens.
Has anyone tried using a help file that can provide me some guidance? I have found nothing in the SLX Knowledge Base. |
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Re: Using Helpfile for a custom help file
Posted: 25 Jun 07 3:21 PM
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Look at the Form "Manage Dashboard Options" under the Dashboard family. It uses the Application.BasicFunctions.HelpCurrentView function. It also uses the Help Support script which is merely just a constant that points to "Dashboard.chm, which currently resides in Program Files\SalesLogix. The form "Sales Dashboard Detail" under InitializeView sets the form's HelpFile and HelpContext properties at runtime. It's quite possible that this is required but this also makes things easier as it's easier to update code (and use diff utilities) than to manipulate the control properties at design-time.
If you get this working, let me know. I'm looking to be doing this at some point in the future. |
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Re: Using Helpfile for a custom help file
Posted: 25 Jun 07 5:05 PM
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Thanks for the inspiration, Jeremy. Actually, my issue was really with RoboHelp and I didn't know it. It seems that mapping an item in the Context Sensitive Help feature in RoboHelp HTML doesn't work with SLX. If I use a regular topic in RoboHelp and give it a Map number (right-click on the Aliases icon under the Context Sensitive Help tree), then that works. I tried setting the properties with using code as Jeremy suggested. This works great for clicking the Help button. But I also wanted hitting F1 in any control to be able to open a help topic specific to that control, so I am just setting the HelpContext value in the property of the control, and setting the HelpFile property in the form. This all maps properly to the RoboHelp HTML topic.
The HelpFile name in the form uses a syntax of 'FileName.chm', with no path, and assumes that your help file is in the SLX directory. I didn't try using a path in the name to direct it to another directory. A RoboHelp HTML file doesn't run properly from the network anyway, so I needed to place it locally. Might as well be in the SLX directory.
By the way, if you don't designate a HelpContext value in all your controls in the form, hitting F1 while that control has focus will open the help file to the topic designated at the form level. |
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Re: Using Helpfile for a custom help file
Posted: 26 Jun 07 8:37 AM
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I believe I had a similar experience but I used Help & Manual and Context help was a fun experience there. That was back when I was coding in Delphi full time, and their CHM help component was the only thing that would work (until CHM support was integrated into Delphi directly). Considering SLX is coded in Delphi, the Help support is most likely going to mirror it closely, which isn't exactly a bad thing.
When it comes to custom help files, standard procedure is to distribute it with SLX. The cool news is you can use things like Agents to push these files to remotes so deployment isn't too terrible. Regarding the network, no CHM file runs properly due to the ActiveX restrictions placed on them so it's pretty much a necessity to distribute them locally. The only slight drawback is the possibility of users needing to allow the CHM to be ran, but I'm not quite sure what exactly triggers that security mechanism. I've found script to automatically allow all chm files in a certain folder but it's in JScript so a little conversion is necessary. Hopefully such a thing is never needed for help files you create, though.
I do wish there were some kind of tutorial or better example regarding help files but I'm not quite sure if they're used much. Considering this is one of, if not the first post someone else has given the subject I would say they're barely even thought of. |
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