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Windows 98 and Windows Help

Files Used in Help

SUMMARY: Explanations of .HLP, .GID, .CNT, .FTS, .CHM, and .CSS files in the Windows 98 help system.

Win98 uses several different types of files when displaying help.

*.HLP are old standard help files. Yes, with the release of a new operating system comes a whole new help engine, and Windows 98 has a full HTML-based help engine. Luckily, these .HLP files are still supported.

*.GID files are created every time a help file is accessed (i.e. if help file SETUP.HLP is accessed, file SETUP.GID is created if it does not already exist). These files contain pointers to the accessed help file and are write-protected and hidden. The usual question that follows is if these files can be deleted. By removing the attributes, you can delete any *.GID file as long as the respective help file is not open concurrently (attempting to do so while the respective help file is open causes a sharing violation error). However, these files will automatically be re-created so it may seem futile to delete these re-appearing files.

*.CNT are the old-style HELP contents files. If your help files isn't using HTML-based help, these files may be used.

*.FTS are the full-text search indices for help files.

*.CHM are compiled HTML help files. These are the actual help files you will be using most often, as these files take full advantage of the HTML help features.

*.CSS - not an actual help file, but they may be referenced by HTML help files (*.CHM files). This is a cascading style sheet, used in setting up a standard text layout and attribute format for the help files.

If you find other help-related files and what the files do, let me know.

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The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >