showHelp method

  • Article

Displays a Help file. This method can be used with Microsoft HTML Help.

Syntax

HRESULT retVal = object.showHelp(helpURL, helpArg);

Parameters

  • helpURL [in]
    Type: BSTR

    BSTR that specifies the URL of the file to be displayed as help.

  • helpArg [in, optional]
    Type: VARIANT

    VARIANT that specifies a string or integer that indicates a context identifier in a Help file.

Return value

Type: HRESULT

If this method succeeds, it returns S_OK. Otherwise, it returns an HRESULT error code.

Standards information

There are no standards that apply here.

Remarks

Only files of types .chm and .htm are supported as help files.

When implementing this method, a second Help dialog box appears when the user presses F1 or clicks Help on the menu bar. You can prevent the default Help dialog box from appearing by setting IHTMLEventObj::returnValue to false.

This method must use a user-initiated action, such as clicking on a link or tabbing to a link and pressing enter, to open a pop-up window. The Pop-up Blocker feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 blocks windows that are opened without being initiated by the user.

See also

About the Pop-up Blocker