OFF95: Help Files Not Available When Building Index

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When you run Help in a program, and you build an index using the Find tab, not all of the Help files for that program may be available. Additionally, the Help file for your program may not contain all of the books (Contents tab) or topics that should be available for your program.

CAUSE

When you run a Help file, you can use the Find Setup Wizard (the first time you click the Find tab) to create a list that contains every word from the Help files for your programs. When the word list is created, you can click the Options button on the Find tab, to select the Find options, such as which files to search. The list of files to search may not contain all of the Help files that you know are on your computer.

This problem occurs, for example, if you did not install all of the Help files for a program. However, this problem also occurs if you install an individual Help file after installing the main Help file. For example, if you install the Online Help For Visual Basic component for Microsoft Excel after installing the Online Help For Microsoft Excel component, the Visual Basic Help topics are not available in the Microsoft Excel Help file. Additionally, the Visual Basic For Programs Reference is not available in the list of files to search in the File Options dialog box when you change the Index options for Microsoft Excel Help.

RESOLUTION

To update the Help contents after installing an individual Help file, use one of the following methods.

Microsoft Excel

To add the Visual Basic Reference to the Microsoft Excel Help contents, activate an existing module or insert a new Visual Basic module, and press F1 while the module sheet is active. Visual Basic Help appears because of the context sensitive Help capability, and the Help file is added to the Contents tab. If this does not work try entering a VBA topic such as "Add" to a module sheet, then hit F1 for that topic to add Help for VBA.

Microsoft Word

Create or edit a new macro, and press F1 while the macro window is active. WordBasic Help appears because of the context sensitive Help capability, and the Help file is added to the Contents tab.

NOTE: Removing the entire program such as Microsoft Excel or Word, and then installing the program again, including all of the Help files, will also resolve this issue. However, this option should only be used when all other methods fail to resolve this issue.

Note that if you install the Microsoft Excel Help file, and you later install the DAO Help file without installing the Visual Basic Reference Help file, the Microsoft Excel Help file will not contain the book (Contents tab) or topics for the DAO Help file.

For additional information about installing the DAO Help file after installing the Microsoft Excel Help file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135501
   TITLE     : OFF95: DAO Help Entry Does Not Appear

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office versions 7.0a and 7.0b for Windows 95.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table displays a list of the Help files available in Microsoft Office Setup, and whether the file is installed if you perform a Typical installation (same as Custom installation if you don't make any changes to the selected items.)

Setup Options                                      Installed During Typical

   Office Help                                                Yes
   Microsoft Binder Help Files                                Yes

   Online Help And Sample Files
      Online Help For Microsoft Excel                         Yes
      Online Help for Visual Basic                             No

   Online Help
      Online Help For Microsoft Word                          Yes
      WordBasic Help                                           No
      Help for WordPerfect Users                               No

   Online Help For Microsoft PowerPoint                       Yes

   Help                                                       Yes

Microsoft Office Help

Microsoft Binder Help

Microsoft Excel Help

Microsoft PowerPoint Help

Microsoft Word Help