BUG: WinHelp API Fails to Open Help File with Path Greater Than 248 Characters (302964)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0
  • Microsoft Winhelp Workshop 4.03
This article was previously published under Q302964

SYMPTOMS

When you try to call the WinHelp application programming interface (API) to start an .hlp file, you may receive one of the following error messages:
A temporary file is created when Help is setting up ([long path]\[helpfile].CNT). This file is temporarily stored on your computer or on a network. There is either not enough disk space for this file, or the network connection is not responding.
A temporary file is created when Help is setting up ([long path]\[helpfile].TMP). This file is temporarily stored on your computer or on a network. There is either not enough disk space for this file, or the network connection is not responding.
When you try to start the Help file directly by double-clicking the Help file in Windows Explorer, you may receive the following error message:
Cannot find the [long path] file. Do you want to try to find this file yourself?

CAUSE

The number of characters of the target Help file path is greater than 248 characters.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, relocate the Help file to a directory that has a shorter path name.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

  1. Open a command prompt.
  2. Use the following command to create a directory that will have a long path name. md C:\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012345678\012\
  3. Copy any Help file (.hlp) into the directory that you created in the previous step.
  4. Double-click the .hlp file to start the file from Windows Explorer, or call the file with the WinHelp API.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/11/2005
Keywords:kbAPI kbbug kbpending KB302964
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