Microsoft help databases use several “context prefixes.” A context prefix is a single letter followed by a period. It appears before a context string with a predefined meaning. These contexts may appear in the resulting text file when you decode a Microsoft help database.
Summary: Context prefixes are used internally by Microsoft.
Except for the h. prefix described below, the context prefixes are used by Microsoft to mark environment- or product-specific features. You would not normally add them to the help files you write.
You can use the h. prefix to identify standard help-file contexts. For instance, h.default identifies the default help screen (the screen that normally appears when you select top-level help). Table 11.1 lists the standard h. contexts.
Table 11.1 Standard h. Contexts
| Context | Description |
| h.contents | The table of contents for the help file. You should also define the string “contents” for direct reference to this context. |
| h.default | The default help screen, typically displayed when the user presses SHIFT+F1 at the “top level” in some applications. |
| h.index | The index for the help file. You can also define the string “index” for direct reference to this context. |
| h.notfound | The help text displayed by some applications when the help system cannot find information about the requested context. The text could be an index of contexts, a topical list, or general information about using help. |
| h.pg# | A specific page within the help file. This is used in response to a “go to page #” request. |
| h.pg$ | The help text that is logically last in the file. This is used by some applications in response to a “go to the end” request made within the help window. |
| h.pg1 | The help text that is logically first in the file. This is used by some applications in response to a “go to the beginning” request made within the help window. |
| h.title | The title of the help database. |
The context prefixes in Table 11.2 are internal to Microsoft products. They appear in decompressed databases, but you do not need to use them.
Table 11.2 Microsoft Product Context Prefixes
| Prefix | Purpose |
| d. | Dialog box. Each dialog box is assigned a number. Its help context string is d. followed by the number (for example, d.12). |
| e. | Error number. If a product supports the error-numbering scheme used by Microsoft languages, it displays help for each error using this prefix. For example, the context e.P0105 refers to the Microsoft QuickPascal Compiler error message number P0105. |
| h. | Help item. Prefixes miscellaneous help context strings that may be constructed or otherwise hidden from the user. For example, most applications look for the context string h.contents when Contents is chosen from the Help menu. |
| m. | Menu item. Contexts that relate to product menu items are defined by their shortcut keys. For example, the Exit selection on the File menu item is accessed by ALT+F, X and is referenced in help by m.f.x. |
| n. | Message number. Each message box is assigned a number. Its help context string is n. plus the number (for example, n.5). |