Designing a Help System

Implementing Help in an Application

Help can be implemented in a number of ways. An application can use the Windows Help system, ToolTips, or the What's This? Help feature of certain controls.

Figure 12.13 Three types of help mechanisms used in applications

Help System

When using the Windows Help system, you can allow the user to invoke Help from a command, such as a Help command button or a Help menu. You can also provide context-sensitive Help. If the HelpContextID is set for the control, and a .HLP file is referenced for the project, when a user presses F1 the Windows Help system will automatically start, load the specified Help file, and move to the topic by ID.