HTML Newbie

[LondonLad]

Hi
This is my first try at writting HTML Help for a VB Project, at the moment I
am trying to write
all of the *.htm files, but a couple of things if you can help please:-
1. When I view the *.htm in the browser I have to keep expanding it myself
can I control the size
it open at in the code?
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a color
of my choice?
Hope you can help.

Ron

[David Webber]

"LondonLad" <***@me.com> wrote in message news:***@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

I don't know about any details about how help is launched from VB but...

Post by LondonLad
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a
color of my choice?

This is a straight HTML question: if your bullet points are generated by
<ul> and <li> tags then my first guess would be to try

<li style="color:#ff0000;">

to get a red bullet point. I have never tried it (i am usually happy with
black <g>) but it looks promising.

HTML help can use all sorts of modern HTML and a reference book is pretty
essential: I like the "WROX" book "HTML 4.01 programmer's reference" by
Stuart Conway et al. But there are on-line guides too - eg
http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp

In digging this link out, I found their unordered list example. You can
play with the examples on the site and test changes in real time. I have
verified that

<li style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:blue">Coffee</span></li>

does exactly what I expected it should - red blob and blue coffee - hideous
:-)

Dave

[Rob Chandler [MVP]]

Hi Ron
I'll try and answer the 1st part.

Its a HTML Help project so CHM output?
Normally when you open a Help file you get back a window handle. You can
use that handle to control the window.
http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#control
Can't comment on VB .NET though.

And for HTML only -- You could embed the IE Browser control in a VB window
then you have full control.

Cheers
Rob
MS Help MVP
http://helpware.net/FAR/

Post by LondonLad
Hi
This is my first try at writting HTML Help for a VB Project, at the moment
I am trying to write
all of the *.htm files, but a couple of things if you can help please:-
1. When I view the *.htm in the browser I have to keep expanding it myself
can I control the size
it open at in the code?
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a
color of my choice?
Hope you can help.
Ron

[LondonLad]

Hi Rob
Sorry but as I had not had a post on that subject I re submitted, I will try
and be more patience
Can you explain in a little more depth, I am not sure how to write the code
to do what I want.
This is my first project.
I am using VB6 SP6 and it will be a help file only not internet.

Ron

Post by Rob Chandler [MVP]
Hi Ron
I'll try and answer the 1st part.
Its a HTML Help project so CHM output?
Normally when you open a Help file you get back a window handle. You can
use that handle to control the window.
http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#control
Can't comment on VB .NET though.
And for HTML only -- You could embed the IE Browser control in a VB window
then you have full control.
Cheers
Rob
MS Help MVP
http://helpware.net/FAR/

Post by LondonLad
Hi
This is my first try at writting HTML Help for a VB Project, at the
moment I am trying to write
all of the *.htm files, but a couple of things if you can help please:-
1. When I view the *.htm in the browser I have to keep expanding it
myself can I control the size
it open at in the code?
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a
color of my choice?
Hope you can help.
Ron

[Rob Chandler [MVP]]

Hi Ron
I'm a little confused.. You talk about HTML Help (which means you compile
you *.HTML files to a .CHM help file) but your #1 question says your are
worried about opening your *.HTML files in a browser. I'd like to understand
what you are doing. It's just for testing... your *.HTML... My authoring
tool (MS Expression Web 2) can open the Browser to any size (if I remember
correctly). Also if FireFox 3 or IE7 is already open, then opening a new
file should simply open a new tab in that browser window.
Thanks
Rob

Post by LondonLad
Hi Rob
Sorry but as I had not had a post on that subject I re submitted, I will
try and be more patience
Can you explain in a little more depth, I am not sure how to write the
code to do what I want.
This is my first project.
I am using VB6 SP6 and it will be a help file only not internet.
Ron

Post by Rob Chandler [MVP]
Hi Ron
I'll try and answer the 1st part.
Its a HTML Help project so CHM output?
Normally when you open a Help file you get back a window handle. You can
use that handle to control the window.
http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#control
Can't comment on VB .NET though.
And for HTML only -- You could embed the IE Browser control in a VB window
then you have full control.
Cheers
Rob
MS Help MVP
http://helpware.net/FAR/

Post by LondonLad
Hi
This is my first try at writting HTML Help for a VB Project, at the
moment I am trying to write
all of the *.htm files, but a couple of things if you can help please:-
1. When I view the *.htm in the browser I have to keep expanding it
myself can I control the size
it open at in the code?
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a
color of my choice?
Hope you can help.
Ron

[LondonLad]

Hi Rob
I am testing at the moment and as I understand when I am finished I will
compile the help file
and point my VB project at that compiled file for the user to open from
within VB if they require help. When I test the *.htm files in HTML Help
Workshop selecting View/In Browser when the
browser opens it is to small and I have to use the double arrow handle to
open to a readable size, can I set a size within the *.htm so it will open
where I want it? also when the user clicks on help from within VB will I be
faced with the same problem?

Ron

Post by Rob Chandler [MVP]
Hi Ron
I'm a little confused.. You talk about HTML Help (which means you compile
you *.HTML files to a .CHM help file) but your #1 question says your are
worried about opening your *.HTML files in a browser. I'd like to
understand what you are doing. It's just for testing... your *.HTML... My
authoring tool (MS Expression Web 2) can open the Browser to any size (if
I remember correctly). Also if FireFox 3 or IE7 is already open, then
opening a new file should simply open a new tab in that browser window.
Thanks
Rob

Post by LondonLad
Hi Rob
Sorry but as I had not had a post on that subject I re submitted, I will
try and be more patience
Can you explain in a little more depth, I am not sure how to write the
code to do what I want.
This is my first project.
I am using VB6 SP6 and it will be a help file only not internet.
Ron

Post by Rob Chandler [MVP]
Hi Ron
I'll try and answer the 1st part.
Its a HTML Help project so CHM output?
Normally when you open a Help file you get back a window handle. You can
use that handle to control the window.
http://helpware.net/FAR/far_faq.htm#control
Can't comment on VB .NET though.
And for HTML only -- You could embed the IE Browser control in a VB window
then you have full control.
Cheers
Rob
MS Help MVP
http://helpware.net/FAR/

Post by LondonLad
Hi
This is my first try at writting HTML Help for a VB Project, at the
moment I am trying to write
all of the *.htm files, but a couple of things if you can help please:-
1. When I view the *.htm in the browser I have to keep expanding it
myself can I control the size
it open at in the code?
2. When I insert Bullet Points they are black can I change these to a
color of my choice?
Hope you can help.
Ron

[Rob Cavicchio]

Post by LondonLad
I am testing at the moment and as I understand when I am finished I will
compile the help file
and point my VB project at that compiled file for the user to open from
within VB if they require help. When I test the *.htm files in HTML Help
Workshop selecting View/In Browser when the
browser opens it is to small and I have to use the double arrow handle to
open to a readable size, can I set a size within the *.htm so it will open
where I want it? also when the user clicks on help from within VB will I
be faced with the same problem?

The preview window is not the size of the final Help window. You can set the
size of the Help window in the project options. I don't know that you can
permanently change the size of the preview window.


********************
Rob Cavicchio
***@mvps.org

[Ulrich Kulle [MVP]]

Hello Ron,

Post by LondonLad
I am testing at the moment and as I understand when I am finished I will
compile the help file
and point my VB project at that compiled file for the user to open from
within VB if they require help.

it maybe useful for you having a look at VB6-CHM examples and download from
my site:
http://www.help-info.de/en/Visual_Basic/vb.htm

Search for "Download Visual Basic 6 example project" and the complete
example of a HTMLHelp Workshop project.

HTH

[LondonLad]

Hi Ulrich,
I downloaded your example as you said. nice to see what can be achieved when
you have the
skills, this was far higher standard than I set out to do in my first
project.
If I want to use part of your example to make mine better am I allowed to do
this?
My project is for private use only I have no comercial links and will not
sell what I use,
but I will put credit to you in the finished project if you say yes.
Please advise.

Ron

Post by Ulrich Kulle [MVP]
Hello Ron,

Post by LondonLad
I am testing at the moment and as I understand when I am finished I will
compile the help file
and point my VB project at that compiled file for the user to open from
within VB if they require help.

it maybe useful for you having a look at VB6-CHM examples and download
http://www.help-info.de/en/Visual_Basic/vb.htm
Search for "Download Visual Basic 6 example project" and the complete
example of a HTMLHelp Workshop project.
HTH
--
Best regards
Ulrich Kulle
Microsoft MVP - Help
***********************************
http://www.help-info.de
***********************************

[Ulrich Kulle [MVP]]

Hello Ron,

Post by LondonLad
Hi Ulrich,
I downloaded your example as you said. nice to see what can be achieved
when you have the
skills, this was far higher standard than I set out to do in my first
project.
If I want to use part of your example to make mine better am I allowed to
do this?

you can use the code or code snippets for free as you want. Putting some
credit to me would be nice.

HTH and don't hesitate asking again here.

[LondonLad]

Hi Again Ulrich
Thanks for that I will keep you posted, this help is taking far longer than
I thought so it
may be a little while.

Ron

Post by Ulrich Kulle [MVP]
Hello Ron,

Post by LondonLad
Hi Ulrich,
I downloaded your example as you said. nice to see what can be achieved
when you have the
skills, this was far higher standard than I set out to do in my first
project.
If I want to use part of your example to make mine better am I allowed to
do this?

you can use the code or code snippets for free as you want. Putting some
credit to me would be nice.
HTH and don't hesitate asking again here.
--
Best regards
Ulrich Kulle
Microsoft MVP - Help
***********************************
http://www.help-info.de
***********************************

[Rob Chandler [MVP]]

Hi Ron
Ha! I've never used View > In Browser :-)
Cute command ... displays it in a window with an embedded IE Browser much
like a CHM Help window.

OK I see what you mean.
But you only resize once. Just leave the viewer open, after that every HTML
you test
will be shown at the current size.

Alternative: Windows gives you a lot of choice in how you view your files.
EG. Open a File Explorer window (displaying your HTML files)
and view in IE Browser, or Send To some other location you like.
So in case you didn't realize... You can edit your HTML in any editor
and view in any viewer. You are not locked in using Workshop.
Cheers
Rob

Post by LondonLad
Hi Rob
I am testing at the moment and as I understand when I am finished I will
compile the help file
and point my VB project at that compiled file for the user to open from
within VB if they require help. When I test the *.htm files in HTML Help
Workshop selecting View/In Browser when the
browser opens it is to small and I have to use the double arrow handle to
open to a readable size, can I set a size within the *.htm so it will open
where I want it? also when the user clicks on help from within VB will I
be faced with the same problem?
Ron