Archive for the ‘MS WinHelp’ Category

Vista WinHelp – Enabling Macros

Saturday, March 17th, 2007

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607 

Microsoft KB Article 917607 has been updated. It now includes registry settings for enabling all macros/features of Vista Winhelp. By default some macros, such as shortcuts, are disabled in Vista WinHelp for security reasons. Also you cannot run .Hlp fles at a remote location.  When a macro is blocked you normally see an error message “There was a problem using the macro. (1037)”. The registry settings fully enable WinHelp on Vista and you wont see the error popups.

Is it safe? Only enable it if you have to. Remember to use common sense, just as you do when running executable files. Only open .HLP files that come from a trusted source. If in doubt don’t open it!  EG. You would never open a .HLP file that was attached to an Email (unless you were 100% sure of its origins).

For me I only have Delphi and Eudora WinHelp files that I use, and I trust the companies that made them.

Rob

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To enable WinHelp macros

  1. Create registry key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp
  2. Add value: AllowProgrammaticMacros: DWord = 1

To enable WinHelp file on an Intranet

  1. Create registry key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp
  2. Add value: AllowIntranetAccess: DWord = 1

See KB917607 for more info.

Posted in MS Help, MS WinHelp | 2 Comments »

WinHlp32.exe for Vista now available for download!

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

Just in…

WinHelp32 for Vista (32bit and 64bit versions) now available from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb

Posted on the download center yesterday at 4:29 PM. With this release, Vista customers can now install the WinHelp application on their system and securely view .HLP files on Windows Vista.

  • This release applies to Windows Vista x86 and x64 only. The release plan for Longhorn Server to be determined.
  • The WinHelp for Vista KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607  is scheduled to be updated with release documentation in the next 24 hours.
  • The WinHlp32.exe Beta must be uninstalled (if you were a beta tester) in order to install the application. To uninstall, go to Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates (under Programs and Features) > Highlight ‘KB917607′ and select uninstall.

Posted in MS WinHelp, Windows | 6 Comments »

Vista WinHelp Release – Further Delay

Friday, March 2nd, 2007

News on the WinHelp release for Vista.

The Help MVPs got an update from the MS Help team yesterday.

They found a show stopper which means a reset of the final test pass which  thus delays the product release. Assuming no additional issues are found they should release in the next couple of weeks.

To be notified as soon as the download is available you can either watch the various Help Communities or subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed. 

Rob

Posted in MS WinHelp, Windows | No Comments »

WinHelp for Vista Slippage

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

The MS team doing WinHelp for Vista have missed the Jan 30 release date. Although making good progress, additional testing is still required which will push the release date out to sometime late Feb.

So early Vista adopters will need to be patent a little while longer. I have been using a WinHelp beta drop (not public) and it works well. I don’t use Macros so I don’t miss that functionality. I found that I have many core applications that still use WinHelp (including Borland Delphi and Eudora mail) so I’m grateful that MS have chosen to support WinHelp in Vista (and that they are plugged the security holes).

Rob
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Posted in MS WinHelp | No Comments »