Help File: Empty Screen Or Menu Item

[Tim Marshall]

I'm putting together my first help file (using Easy Help,
http://www.easyhelp.com/). So far, so good. I'm able to use the Help
File and Help Context ID to have things from my help file pop up when F1
is pressed.

But how do I do this when my Access App screen is empty? A hidden form?

Also, how do I have a menu item that pulls up the help file? When I
open the help file on its own, there is a contents item tht appears, I'd
like to be able to have this appear when a user clicks a "help" item on
a custom menu and even a specific area when a custom tool bar item is
clicked.

Also, how do I point to a directory for the Help File property using a
relative path (\TCM_Help\TCM_HELP.HLP) rather than an absolute path
(C:\Access Apps\Access2003\Campaign\TCM_Help\TCM_HELP.HLP)?

Thanks in advance.
--
Tim
^o<
/#) "Burp-beep, burp-beep, burp-beep?" - Quaker Jake
/^^ "What's UP, Dittoooooo?" - Ditto

[B. Austin]

Tim -

One way to implement a Help menu option is to create a function:

Function ShowHelp()

Dim x As Variant

x = Shell("winhlp32.exe myhelpfile.hlp", 1)

End Function

Create a macro to call the function, then associate the menu option with the macro.

If you put the Help file in the same directory as the .mdb file, you won't need to include the path
in the function or in the Help File property.

The experts in this group may point you to something better, but this will work...

- Brian

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 01:06:20 -0330, Tim Marshall <TI****@antarctic.flowerpots> wrote:

I'm putting together my first help file (using Easy Help,
http://www.easyhelp.com/). So far, so good. I'm able to use the Help
File and Help Context ID to have things from my help file pop up when F1
is pressed.

But how do I do this when my Access App screen is empty? A hidden form?

Also, how do I have a menu item that pulls up the help file? When I
open the help file on its own, there is a contents item tht appears, I'd
like to be able to have this appear when a user clicks a "help" item on
a custom menu and even a specific area when a custom tool bar item is
clicked.

Also, how do I point to a directory for the Help File property using a
relative path (\TCM_Help\TCM_HELP.HLP) rather than an absolute path
(C:\Access Apps\Access2003\Campaign\TCM_Help\TCM_HELP.HLP)?

Thanks in advance.

(Remove NOSPAM to reply.)