PRB: HTML Help Does Not Work from VFP Application (314296)

SYMPTOMS

After a Visual FoxPro (VFP) 7.0 application is distributed to a computer that does not have VFP 7.0 installed, HTML Help files do not open when accessed from inside the application.

CAUSE

The files FoxHHelp7.exe and FoxHHelpPS7.dll are required in order for HTML Help to work from a distributed VFP 7.0 application.

RESOLUTION

If you are using "InstallShield Express - Visual FoxPro Limited Edition" to install your application, add FoxHHelp7.exe and FoxHHelpPS7.dll in step 2 of the install project. These files should be installed on the development computer in the \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP folder. If you do not want to keep them with your application files, you can place them in [CommonFilesFolder]\Microsoft Shared\VFP.

If you are copying the files manually, after bringing them over you need to run the command FoxHHelp7 /regserver on the new computer to put the proper entries in the registry.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create a Visual FoxPro 7.0 application that uses HTML Help.
Install the application on a computer that has not had VFP 7.0 installed on it.
Try to use Help from the application. You will find that nothing happens.

The Microsoft Visual FoxPro HTML Help Support Library merge module which ships with InstallShield Express contains the files needed for calling HTML Help from VFP 6.0 applications. Including the merge module (MSM) with a VFP 7.0 application has no effect.

REFERENCES

For additional information about building distributions in Visual FoxPro 7.0, see the "InstallShield Express - Visual FoxPro Limited Edition" Help files as well as the article "Walkthrough: Creating a Visual FoxPro Application Setup Program Using InstallShield Express" on the VFP 7.0 CD.