HELP FILE ERROR on no-install

[jcadbiz]

The index shows correct data but the page window shows only:

This program cannot display the webpage

dunno what's wrong. Same *.CHM file works in installed version
(This on SP2 Vista.)

[Borut]

Yes, I spotted this also under w2k SP4 (as far as I recall, my help page window was simply empty and content/index was ok, as at your place) and started to investigate it. I thought that it might have something to do with apparently known problem of w2k SP4 - here is an example of what can be found on the Web http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm where it says:

Problem: A few Windows 2000 users have recently reported that the links in their HTML Help files stopped working after they installed Windows 2000 Service Pack 4. Installing the latest critical update did not fix the problem.

Solution: Apparently with SP4 IE overwrote the hhctrl.ocx CLSID with the wrong registry key. The fix is to unregister then register hhctrl.ocx (the unregister must be done first).
regsvr32 /u <drive>:/winnt/system32/hhctrl.ocx
regsvr32 <drive>:/winnt/system32/hhctrl.ocx

When this problem occurs on platforms other than Windows 2000 SP4, the solution is to install Critical Update 811630. http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811630

However, I had no time to investigate it further. My w2k runs in a virtual machine. I am not sure if I ever tried XYplorer help under w2k before, so I can not say if this is new. I have no problems under XP.

You noticed this under Vista SP2, so maybe you can consider the upper link (I have not followed it and have no idea what it suggests).

Anyone else having this issue?

[admin]

Is it maybe this: http://www.xyplorer.com/faq-topic.php?id=chm

[Borut]

Is it maybe this: http://www.xyplorer.com/faq-topic.php?id=chm

Maybe, but apparently not in the case of at least w2k, since it seems there is no such a button in file properties dialog (or I was unable to see one).

However, here are my further findings regarding w2k:

• Unregistering and registering hhctrl.ocx (as suggested in my previous post) did not help in my case.
• The right-hand pane is indeed not empty (as I falsely remembered previously) but contains an IE message about not being possible to access the page or something similar.
• Help files of other not registered (i.e. portable) software have the same problem on my w2k.
• I am convinced that the problem is in the security improvement that came with w2k SP4, many years ago. Unfortunately, there is apparently no way to declare a specific help file as being "clean/allowed".

So, I still do not think it is an XY problem (and therefore actually did not initially want to report it two days ago). When and if the issue will here be explained, maybe it would be good to mention the solution somewhere (better on the web, then in the "unreadable" help file).

My latest wild guess is that this could have something to do with what Microsoft explains here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896905 - I shall try to test that in the next days, as soon as I find time.

[admin]

Is it maybe this: http://www.xyplorer.com/faq-topic.php?id=chm

Maybe, but apparently not in the case of at least w2k, since it seems there is no such a button in file properties dialog (or I was unable to see one).

However, here are my further findings regarding w2k:

• Unregistering and registering hhctrl.ocx (as suggested in my previous post) did not help in my case.
• The right-hand pane is indeed not empty (as I falsely remembered previously) but contains an IE message about not being possible to access the page or something similar.
• Help files of other not registered (i.e. portable) software have the same problem on my w2k.
• I am convinced that the problem is in the security improvement that came with w2k SP4, many years ago. Unfortunately, there is apparently no way to declare a specific help file as being "clean/allowed".

So, I still do not think it is an XY problem (and therefore actually did not initially want to report it two days ago). When and if the issue will here be explained, maybe it would be good to mention the solution somewhere (better on the web, then in the "unreadable" help file).

Ok, but you say "Unregistering and registering hhctrl.ocx (as suggested in my previous post) did not help in my case." So, what is the solution?

[Stefan]

I remember also an problem on WinXP with opening CHMs from an network share.
There was an registry flag to change to allow that opening. (i think the same as doing via iE > Settings > trusted sides)

[Statler]

I remember also an problem on WinXP with opening CHMs from an network share.
There was an registry flag to change to allow that opening. (i think the same as doing via iE > Settings > trusted sides)

You mean http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675/.

[nas8e9]

I remember also an problem on WinXP with opening CHMs from an network share.
There was an registry flag to change to allow that opening. (i think the same as doing via iE > Settings > trusted sides)

You mean http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675/.

That KB article seems to relate to CHM files that pull content from the internet, whereas XYplorer's help file is strictly local.

Could it be that IE's security settings for the Local Intranet zone (which AFAIK also apply to CHM files) are set too high?

[avsfan]

I remember also an problem on WinXP with opening CHMs from an network share.
There was an registry flag to change to allow that opening. (i think the same as doing via iE > Settings > trusted sides)

You mean http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675/.

That KB article seems to relate to CHM files that pull content from the internet, whereas XYplorer's help file is strictly local.

Could it be that IE's security settings for the Local Intranet zone (which AFAIK also apply to CHM files) are set too high?

I remember looking at this issue a while back, and don't seem to recall finding a satisfactory workaround for opening help files from a network drive.

What I ended up doing is, when my application runs, it checks to see if it's being loaded from a network drive, and if so, it copies the help file to the local machine's temp dir. When help is launched, it loads the local help file rather than the one on the network.

Not an elegant solution, but one that works for me...

[Borut]

@avsfan
Thank you for mentioning network drives. Indeed, that is the case in my situation: I have portable applications on a host machine drive. My w2k guest sees that drive out of a virtual machine as a network drive. As soon as I copied the help file to a real local w2k drive, there were no more problems. So, your workaround helps, but does not satisfy me.

@Statler
Thank you for pointing to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675/
I have tried that, since it says there that it applies to w2k sp4. I have tried to define "MaxAllowedZone" (analogous to the Example 2) and I have also tried to use "UrlAllowList" (analogous to the Example 1). Unfortunately both have brought no success.

@Don
So, I still do not have an elegant solution to my problem (under w2k I want to have XYplorer and other portable applications on a nonlocal/network drive), but we at least now know that this has nothing to do with XYplorer and nothing to do (at least in my w2k case) with portable vs. installed, but only with a drive (local vs. network) on which the help file resides.

@jcadbiz
Are there any special circumstances in this respect in your case on Vista SP2? Was in your case Don's suggestion (http://www.xyplorer.com/faq-topic.php?id=chm) a solution?

Thanks to all,
Borut

[jcadbiz]

Okay guys - just in case too many gray cell calories have already gone into this . . . if Microsoft is guilty again of using mystery code, what about a third party CHM reader?

Wow, though. This is such a no brainer - it is a file - assuming it is proper it should open directly. I started this thread so I should look into it - but - (never mind two deadlines...)

@Borut: I use an admin rights account directly so I don't get messages like that. And I turned off MS stuff and installed and use better (less painful) products. They don't do that without notification.

follow up:

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best ... r-2_1.html

Okay I downloaded ExtraChm from the above address, which is freeware and has a few features beyond basic HE.exe (?).

Naturally these files open right up. What were we thinking? Problem solved? (for now....) THANKS GUYS. I have more important questions to suggest now ....

[Borut]

Hi Don,

I have finally found an elegant and minimal solution to the problem I had on w2k. If you find it useful (which I most certainly did) - you could choose to adapt the following description for inclusion into your FAQ page, as an additional information for those having XYplorer somewhere in their LAN and using an older Windows version (which is lacking the file properties dialog button described in you current solution to the same or similar problem)...

Problem: Your XYplorer folder is positioned somewhere in your network (i.e. not on a local drive). When you invoke on line help (either out of a program, or directly), the help window comes up, the table of contents and index are visible, but the right-hand pane of the help window contains an Internet Explorer message about access to the help page being canceled. This is happening not only with the XYplorer help, but with any help not being positioned on your local drive.

Applies to: Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP1 and later; and some more.

Solution: Save the following three lines of a registry script code to a file named for instance ChmIntranetOn.reg (extension should be .reg):

Code: Select all

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"MaxAllowedZone"=dword:00000002

Double click the file and allow the execution of a script by answering the question which will pop up with yes. Done!

Background: In order to minimize the potential misuse of help pages, Microsoft has - from certain OS versions on - disabled presentation of stand alone and chm-embedded HTML pages residing on non-local drives. The solution presented here (which has been thoroughly and successfully tested both under Windows 2000 SP4, as well as under Windows XP SP3) is a minimalistic one, in a sense that it exclusively adds the ability to correctly present chm help files residing in your local area network (intranet). This ability is not even extended to HTML pages.

[jcadbiz]

Told you so.

[admin]

Hi Don,

I have finally found an elegant and minimal solution to the problem I had on w2k. If you find it useful (which I most certainly did) - you could choose to adapt the following description for inclusion into your FAQ page, as an additional information for those having XYplorer somewhere in their LAN and using an older Windows version (which is lacking the file properties dialog button described in you current solution to the same or similar problem)...

Problem: Your XYplorer folder is positioned somewhere in your network (i.e. not on a local drive). When you invoke on line help (either out of a program, or directly), the help window comes up, the table of contents and index are visible, but the right-hand pane of the help window contains an Internet Explorer message about access to the help page being canceled. This is happening not only with the XYplorer help, but with any help not being positioned on your local drive.

Applies to: Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP1 and later; and some more.

Solution: Save the following three lines of a registry script code to a file named for instance ChmIntranetOn.reg (extension should be .reg):

Code: Select all

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"MaxAllowedZone"=dword:00000002

Double click the file and allow the execution of a script by answering the question which will pop up with yes. Done!

Background: In order to minimize the potential misuse of help pages, Microsoft has - from certain OS versions on - disabled presentation of stand alone and chm-embedded HTML pages residing on non-local drives. The solution presented here (which has been thoroughly and successfully tested both under Windows 2000 SP4, as well as under Windows XP SP3) is a minimalistic one, in a sense that it exclusively adds the ability to correctly present chm help files residing in your local area network (intranet). This ability is not even extended to HTML pages.

Thanks a lot!

Do you happen to have a screenshot of the problem (the help window)?

[Borut]

When I try to attach a file, I get the message: "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached."

On the other hand, I have tried this workaround now also on my XP system at home. I does not work here. The only apparent difference to my office machine is that at my home machine there is an additional registry entry under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\
EnforcedDirectories=%WINDIR%;C:\Programme\Movie Maker

So, when you make me able to attach the .jpg I will do it (not earlier than today evening, however), but please wait a bit with changing your site - I will try to investigate what is necessary to do on my home XP to make it work. You and possible the other board members could try it too, on machines you have at your disposal (if possible).