Microsoft HTML Help

Microsoft HTML Help is a Microsoft proprietary format for writing help content. It allows creating help files with HTML, providing features like full text search, index, table of contents. It integrates with Visual Studio and other Microsoft products.

Microsoft HTML Help alternatives ➤

What is Microsoft HTML Help?

Microsoft HTML Help is a Microsoft proprietary format for writing help content for Windows programs. It was introduced in 1997 as a replacement for WinHelp with the release of Visual Studio 97.

HTML Help allows creators to write help content using HTML, providing features like full text search, tables of contents, indexing, bookmarks and printing support. The HTML Help executable program supports compiled HTML Help files and provides navigation through the table of contents, index, search, bookmarks etc.

Some key features of HTML Help include:

Use of HTML for writing help content
Compilation of files into a CHM file
Full text search capabilities
Tables of contents, index, bookmarks
Printing support
Integration with Visual Studio and other Microsoft products

As a Microsoft proprietary format, HTML Help works best for developing help systems for Microsoft products. Many Microsoft applications like Visual Studio, SQL Server, BizTalk Server use HTML Help for their help content. It offers tight integration with the Microsoft platform.

While the format is proprietary, there are tools available to create and view HTML Help files on other platforms as well. The files can be distributed as self-contained CHM files to end users. However, for internal help systems or public documentation, most organizations now use web-based help formats.

Official Links

Official Website
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/window...

The Best Microsoft HTML Help Alternatives

Top Apps like Microsoft HTML Help

Okular, KEL CHM Creator, CHM Reader, MadCap Flare, Adobe RoboHelp, WinCHM, Help+Manual, HelpSmith, Kchmviewer, xchm, CHM Decoder, ExtraCHM, Helpinator, CHMPane, chmviewkit, ChmFox are some alternatives to Microsoft HTML Help.

Sugggest an alternative ❐

Okular

Okular is a feature-rich document viewer application designed for the KDE desktop environment on Linux operating systems. It can open and display a wide variety of document formats including PDF, EPUB, PostScript, DjVu, CHM, XPS, ODT, FictionBook, ComicBook, Plucker, and others.Some of the key features of Okular include:Smooth...

KEL CHM Creator

KEL CHM Creator is a free help authoring tool for Windows that allows you to create CHM (Compiled HTML) files. CHM is a common Windows help file format that allows you to package web content like HTML pages, images, videos, and more into a single distributable file.Some key features...

CHM Reader

CHM Reader is a lightweight, open source program for viewing Compiled HTML (.chm) documents on Windows. It allows you to easily open and browse the contents of .chm help files and documentation.Key features of CHM Reader include:Intuitive user interface for navigating through .chm filesTable of contents, index, search...

MadCap Flare

MadCap Flare is a feature-rich content authoring and publishing software designed specifically for technical communicators, technical writers, instructional designers and developers. It provides a streamlined workflow to go from authoring to publishing professional documentation, help systems, knowledge bases, eLearning courses, training guides, policy and procedure manuals, and more.Key features...

Adobe RoboHelp

Adobe RoboHelp is a popular help authoring and content development tool used by technical writers and instructional designers to create help content, knowledge bases, eLearning courses, policy documents and more. It comes with an intuitive interface and advanced features to streamline content creation.Some key features and capabilities of RoboHelp...

WinCHM

WinCHM is a free help authoring tool for creating CHM (Compiled HTML) help files typically used for software documentation and user manuals. It provides an easy to use WYSIWYG editor for adding text, images, tables, links, tables of contents etc. without needing to know HTML.Some key features of WinCHM...

Help+Manual

Help+Manual is a feature-rich documentation tool used to create help files, user manuals, system manuals, ebooks, and more. It includes a built-in text editor, screenshot tool, variables, conditional text, tables, fonts, multi-language spell checker, and more.Key features include:Text Editor - Full-featured text editor to write and format...

HelpSmith

HelpSmith is a modern help authoring and documentation software designed for teams that need to create help content, knowledge bases, user manuals, online courses, and technical documentation. It provides a collaborative authoring environment with features like:Content reuse - content topics can be written once and reused across multiple outputsConditional...

Kchmviewer

Kchmviewer is an open-source CHM (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help) file viewer application designed for the Linux operating system. It provides users with an easy way to view CHM files and access their contents on Linux.Some of the key features of Kchmviewer include:Intuitive graphical user interface for browsing CHM...

Xchm

xchm is an open source CHM file viewer application for Linux systems. It enables users to easily view Microsoft Compiled HTML Help (.chm) documents on Linux. Some of the key features of xchm include:Native Linux application with GTK+ graphical interfaceTable of contents pane for easy navigation of CHM documentsFull-text...

CHM Decoder

CHM Decoder is a free, open-source application that enables users to view and extract the contents of CHM (Compiled HTML) files on their computers. CHM files are commonly used as help documentation for software programs and contain HTML pages, images, and other files compressed into a single file.The CHM...

ExtraCHM

ExtraCHM is a free, open-source CHM file reader and browser for Windows. CHM stands for Compiled HTML and is a common file format used for software documentation and help files.Key features of ExtraCHM include:Lightweight and fast - uses little memory or CPUSupports CHM version 1.0 up to latest 3.0Tabbed...

Helpinator

Helpinator is a customer service and support software designed to enhance and automate customer interactions. Its key features include:AI-powered chatbot for answering common questions and routing complex inquiriesTicket management system for organizing customer requestsKnowledge base to surface relevant help articlesCustomer analytics to identify trends and opportunitiesMobile app allowing users...

CHMPane

CHMPane is an open-source file manager and disk space analyzer application for macOS. It provides a simple yet powerful interface for browsing files and folders, searching, copying, moving, deleting files, analyzing disk usage, and performing other basic file management tasks.Key features of CHMPane include:Intuitive browser-style interface for navigating...

Chmviewkit

chmviewkit is an open-source CHM viewer application designed specifically for macOS. It enables users to easily open and read .chm documentation files on their Mac. Some key features of chmviewkit include:Intuitive user interface with sidebar table of contents navigationFull-text search allowing you to search CHM file contentsAdjustable preferences like...

ChmFox

ChmFox is a free, open source CHM (Compressed HTML) file viewer and reader application for Windows. It allows users to easily open and read .CHM files, which contain documentation and help content compressed into a single file.Key features of ChmFox include:Intuitive user interface for browsing .CHM filesTable of...