3.3 Using Graphics Files

You can add bitmaps and metafiles to your help files by using the bml, bmc, and bmr statements. These statements take the name of a graphics file and insert the corresponding bitmap or metafile into the help file at the specified position.

Windows Help requires graphics files to be in one of the following formats:

Windows bitmap (.BMP)

Placeable Windows metafile (.WMF)

Multiple-resolution bitmap (.MRB)

Segmented-graphics bitmap (.SHG)

Multiple-resolution bitmaps can be created by using the Microsoft Multiple-Resolution Bitmap Compiler (MRBC). Segmented-graphics bitmaps can be created by using Microsoft Windows Hotspot Editor. Only 16-color and monochrome bitmaps may be used. Windows Help does not support 256-color bitmaps.

Although the \pict statement can also be used to add bitmaps and metafiles to a help file, the bitmap or metafile data must be inserted into the topic file rather than specified as a separate file.