INFO: HTML Help URL Protocols (235226)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft HTML Help 1.0
  • Microsoft HTML Help 1.1
  • Microsoft HTML Help 1.2
  • Microsoft HTML Help 1.21

This article was previously published under Q235226

SUMMARY

HTML Help uses Internet Explorer to navigate to and access .chm files. Internet Explorer uses certain protocols to access the files. The following are some general rules regarding the protocols.

Anything after the double colon (::) must use forward slashes (/), in accordance with URL standards. Normally, backslashes (\) are used only when specifying a file path that is before the double colon (::). However, using forward slashes before the double colon (::) is still allowed.

The following is a list of correct HTML Help URLs:
  • Filename.chm::/page.htm - Only works inside of HTML Help. Microsoft strongly discourages its use (also known as "super-automagic" URL).
  • Mk:@MSITStore:filename.chm::/page.htm - The standard HTML Help URL that works with Internet Explorer 3.0 and later (also known as "automagic" URL).
  • Ms-its:filename.chm::/page.htm - The new standard HTML Help URL that works with Internet Explorer 4.0 and later (also know as "automagic" URL).

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: If you are using scripting to get the URL of the current page, you may receive a URL that starts with Mk:@MSITStore:, but you may also receive a URL that starts with Ms-its:, depending on the navigation method used to reach the page.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/10/1999
Keywords:kbAPI kbCompiler kbDSupport kbinfo KB235226