PRB: Windows 3.1 Help Compiler & Difficulty w/ Word 6.0 RTF

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0 and 6.0a
• Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Visual Basic programming system for Windows, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

The Windows version 3.1 Help Compiler version 3.10.504 (and earlier versions) will not function correctly with Microsoft Word version 6.0 rich-text format (RTF) output. You may receive a general protection (GP) fault during Help file compilation or the Help file may be compiled using only the Windows system font.

CAUSE

This is caused by the way previous versions of the Help Compiler interpret new RTF controls relating to the font header information that Word version 6.0 generates when saving as RTF.

WORKAROUND

To obtain the latest release of these updated Compiler (HC.EXE and HCP.EXE version 3.10.505), download VBHC505.EXE.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ vbhc505.exe (size: 231170 bytes) 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from
               Online Services

MORE INFORMATION

Files in VBHC505.EXE

   HC.EXE -- Standard mode Help Compiler
   HCP.EXE -- Protected mode Help Compiler (Uses Expanded Memory)
   HC.ERR -- Error file used by HC.EXE
   HCP.ERR -- Error file used by HCP.EXE

Additional Problems Corrected

• More entries (approximately 8,000) are allowed in the .HPJ file in the map section and alias sections.
• A larger number of bitmap definitions (approximately 2,970) is allowed in an RTF input file.
• The internal compiler limit was increased from 32K to 64K.

Workaround for Problem Displaying Apostrophe in Help File

As the default, Microsoft Word versions 6.0 and 6.0a use Smart Quotes. However, the current version of the Help compiler ignores Smart Quotes in an .RTF file. If you have a problem displaying an apostrophe in a Help file, this is probably the cause.

To work around the problem in Microsoft Word:

1. From the Tools menu, choose AutoCorrect. Clear the first check box, "Change Straight Quotes to Smart Quotes."

2. From the Tools menu, choose Options. Click the AutoFormat tab in the upper-right corner. In the Replace frame, clear the "Straight Quotes with Smart Quotes" check box.