A CHM help file is a type of file format for providing help documentation and user manuals for software applications. CHM stands for “Compiled HTML Help”, which means that the help file is a compiled collection of HTML pages, images, and other multimedia resources that are designed to be accessed through a user interface. CHM help files are commonly used in Windows-based software applications, and they are accessed through a dedicated viewer program called the HTML Help Viewer. They can be created using the HelpNDoc help authoring tool.
Step 1 - Download the installer In HelpNDoc, click File then select Options. This displays the ‘HelpNDoc Options’ window.
Click Download to the right of ‘Microsoft HTML Help Workshop’ path to download the installation software from Microsoft’s web-site.
Alternatively, it can be downloaded from: Microsoft HTML Help Workshop
This will download the htmlhelp.exe software installer.
Step 2 - Install Microsoft HTML Help Workshop Run the htmlhelp.exe software you’ve downloaded.
CHM help files are used to provide online help and documentation for software applications, plugins or drivers, and are commonly distributed with Windows installers. Third-party programs like HelpNDoc are specialized help authoring software tools that can make it easier and faster to create a CHM help file. Using a third-party program to create a CHM help file can provide several benefits compared to using the built-in HTML Help Workshop program provided by Microsoft, as they offer a user-friendly graphical interface, powerful features, time-saving tools, and flexibility that can make it easier and more efficient to create a professional-looking CHM help file.
Warning! Some information and techniques detailed on this page may be out of date. For more up-to-date information on this topic, we recommend that you check the following page: Automatic generation of YouTube and Vimeo embed codes and improved High-DPI screen support in HelpNDoc 6.7. We previously covered how to embed a YouTube video in your CHM or HTML help files. While YouTube is a great platform to share videos, some might prefer one of its main competitor, Vimeo.
