Create A Basic WinHelp Contents File

What is a Windows® help contents file (*.cnt)? Why do I need one? How do I create one? These questions are answered on this and subsequent pages. The last WEB page in this series contains an example help contents file with common entries.

A Windows Contents File (*.cnt) is a specially formatted ASCII text file, and is similar to the common Windows *.ini file. The entries in the Contents tab initially displayed when you double click on a Windows 95/NT help file (WinHelp 4.0) are based on the help contents file (*.cnt).

With the Winhelp 4.0 SDK comes a program called HCW.EXE which automates the creation of the help contents and project files. So why do you need to know how to manually create a help contents file? To give those Windows 3.1 help files a new lease on life in Windows 95/NT. That's right, Winhelp will display the Contents tab for a Windows 3.1 compiled help file, if there is an associated help contents file.

Scenario: Create a basic contents file for an application with a toolbar; file, edit and help menus; and four major controls on the user interface.

:Base helpfile.hlp>main

The "Base" statement is the first entry in a help contents file. Open a new ASCII text file. Type ":Base"; then a space followed by the name of your help file; a right arrow (>) and the name of the window (from the help project file - probably "main").

:Title My Help File

The title entry is that text that will appear in the tab title bar after the phrase "Help Topics:", and is used for any secondary window that does not specify a title. Second line, type ":Title", space and the desired text.

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