HelpMaker Topmost?

[BRENT GARDNER]

Anyone know of a way to get Helpmaker .chm file to stay on top of my
maindialog? If user moves mouse pointer over to maindialog which is
larger than Helpmaker file, Helpmaker file goes to the background?

Thanks,

Brent

P.S. Looks like Power Basic Help file has same problem?

[Sally Peck]

From the vizacc.com/nntp/ :

The only workaround so far that I've seen is to use Help On-Top Manager from this link: http://frogleg.mvps.org/helptechnolo.../prjontop.html

Once the computer is rebooted after installing it, the icon in the task bar area will allow the user to select an open help window to keep on top. It supports the following help formats; WinHelp, WinHelp 2000, HTML Help, MSDN, Hypertext Development Kit (HDK), and JavaHelp windows.

[Bill Eppler]

In my apps, if I call 'help' (gHELPfile) referencing my main dialog handle (gMANhndl), the 'help' is always on top of it:

'always on top
HtmlHelp(gMANhndl, gHELPfile, %HH_HELP_CONTEXT, gProc_Flag(0))

'not
HtmlHelp(GetDesktopWindow(), gHELPfile, %HH_HELP_CONTEXT, gProc_Flag(0))

[Michael Mattias]

If using HTML help....the HTML Help Workshop Help doth sayeth...

HTML Help API overview
The HTML Help application programming interface (API) enables a Windows program to create a help window that displays a help topic. The Windows program has complete control over the type, style, and position of the help window.

Tells me you should be able to get the hWndHelp and set ExStyle %WS_EX_TOPMOST.

[BRENT GARDNER]

Bill,

I have been using:

        ExecuteHelp(0, "Files\_tmphhp\addresswinhlp.chm", sSubject)

That was posted in the forum.

You posted:

'always on top
HtmlHelp(gMANhndl, gHELPfile, %HH_HELP_CONTEXT, gProc_Flag(0))

How do you get "gMANhndl"?

Thanks

Brent

[Steve Rossell]

You might look at http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pb...416#post105416.

gMANhndl is the handle of the parent window for which you want the help window to be on top of (topmost). If you have a dialog that you want the help window to display on top of then gMANhndl is the dialog handle, either returned from your DIALOG NEW statement or the CBHNDL in a callback function.

[BRENT GARDNER]

Steve,

Sorry, I meant the handle of the htmlhelp file gHELPfile.
I do not like to have to use MSGBOX, but is only way I can figure to keep htmlhelp on top
and have maindialog disabled is:

CASE %WM_CONTEXTMENU  ' Right click on button to see Helpfile index
   IF CtlID > 0 THEN
       ' Make HtmlHelpA topmost
       ExecuteHelp(0, "Files\_tmphhp\mybuttonhlp.chm", sSubject) 'htmlhelp")
       ' To keep pop up dialog on top.
       ' This msgbox stays underneath mybuttonhlp.chm
       yResult = MSGBOX("First Close"+$CRLF+$CRLF+"mybuttonhlp Browser... "+$CRLF+$CRLF _
       +"before clicking or pressing [OK] button", %MB_OK OR %MB_TASKMODAL)
       IF yResult = %IDOK THEN
        ' Nothing
       END IF
   END IF 
   ' Initialize variables
   CtlID = 0: KEYP = 0

Hope someone comes up with better solution.

Thanks,

Brent

[Bill Eppler]

gHELPfile is just the help file name (and path).
maybe "myhelpfile.chm". It's not a handle.

[Michael Mattias]

The HTML Help API supports a set of commands (uCommand values) that enable you to access functionality programmatically
....

Declare Function HtmlHelp Lib "HHCtrl.ocx" Alias "HtmlHelpA" _
   (ByVal hwndCaller As Long, _
   ByVal pszFile As String, _
   ByVal uCommand As Long, _
   dwData As Any) As Long

....
HH_GET_WIN_HANDLE Command
Returns the handle (hwnd) of a specified window type.

pszFile Specifies the name of the compiled help (.chm) file in which the window type is
defined.
dwData Specifies the name of the window type whose handle you want to return.

Example:

HtmlHelp(
         hwndCaller,
         "c:\\MyHelpFile.chm,
         HH_GET_WIN_HANDLE,
         (DWORD) "MyWindowType") ;

MCM

[Kev Peel]

Use:

ExecuteHelp(CbHndl, [etc]

..to specify a parent for the help file.

[BRENT GARDNER]

Kev,

Cool! Keeps helpfile on top without a msgbox. This is probably the way
it should work(on top but does not disable maindialog). With my program, I worry that someone will inadvertently click on one of the
buttons that are not covered and delete a record. So, for now, I have
reverted back to Execute(0, etc...) and have a msgbox to keep maindialog disabled while helpfile is open. I see that you use hParent,
but doesn't disable maindialog. I guess it is because helpfile is a modeless dialog?

Thanks for your help,

Brent

[Kev Peel]

Brent,

Yes, the windows help system is modeless (independant of the parent), it was not designed for modal use. I believe the parent handle is simply used to let Windows know where to keep the focus and also allows you to close the help file with your application.

[David Roberts]

I may have the wrong end of the stick here but will this not do the job

CASE %WM_CONTEXTMENU  ' Right click on button to see Helpfile index
   IF CtlID > 0 THEN
     Dialog Disable CbHndl
     ExecuteHelp(CbHndl, "Files\_tmphhp\mybuttonhlp.chm", sSubject) 'htmlhelp")
     Dialog Enable CbHndl
   END IF 
   ' Initialize variables
   CtlID = 0: KEYP = 0

[Kev Peel]

No because the help system is modeless, the DIALOG ENABLE will be executed right after the help file is shown. There are probably ways around this but I am not one to encourage nonstandard behaviour I mean what if the user wants to consult the help while using the app, it can't be done with a modal help file.

[David Roberts]

> No because the help system is modeless, the DIALOG ENABLE will be executed right after the help file is shown.

Of course.