Build A Basic Windows® Help FileBuild A Basic Windows® Help File
Jumps, Popups & Secondary Windows
We have already looked at "jumps" from the Contents topic, and as hot spots. The above example demonstrates how to "jump" from selected text to a designated topic. Double underline the selected text, in this case "open." Then, place the cursor at the right edge of the "n" and using the hidden text option type the context string. Remember, hidden text is not seen by the help file end user.
Popups are specialized topics, displayed in temporary windows. They are generally used for definitions, or to display an example. Like other topics, a popup is designated by inserting the (#) footnote followed by a context string. Popup topics must also be proceeded and followed by a hard page break. You do not use the ($ and K) footnotes, and you do not reference the popup topic in the Contents topic, or in an index or glossary. The help file end user views (calls) a popup topic by clicking on designate text or a graphical hot spot. The above example show how to designate selected text to call a popup window. Underline (single line) the selected text, in this case "ASCII." Then, place the cursor at the right edge of the last "I" and using the hidden text option type the context string.
To use a graphical image to call a popup topic, you must combine referencing and "jump" techniques. Underline (single line) the "bmX" entry, then, using hidden text, type the context string. When the help file is compiled, the end user can mouse click on the displayed graphic, which will cause the context string assigned popup topic to be displayed. To create multiple hot spots on a single graphic you will need the SHED editor.
A help file's primary screen is call a "window," and is named "main." Additional screens ( up to five in Windows 3.1x, and 11 for WinHelp 4.0) are called secondary windows, and may have any name (up to eight characters in length) other than "main." Both window types have scrolling and non-scrolling attributes. Both may be positioned for the screen resolution in which they are created. Window attributes are designate in the help project file (*.hpj).
There are a number of ways to designate a particular topic to be displayed in a secondary window. The above example uses a graphic as a jump (double underlined). The remaining text is hidden. "About" is the context string, identifying the topic. The right arrow designates the window (>). "about' is the name of the window as defined in the help project file. The "@" designates the help file name.
Another way to designate a topic to be show in a secondary window is to use a macro (!) footnote, or to create a button via a macro in the [CONFIG] section of the help project file.
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