Multiple Columns of Text in Windows Help Files

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q67895
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1
  • Microsoft Win32 SDK, versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows Help version 3.0 will support multiple columns of information in Help files. Unfortunately, the Table features of Word for Windows are not supported in Help version 3.0. In Windows Help version 3.1, however, Word for Windows tables are supported. Below is an outline of the supported techniques for creating multiple columns in Help files.

MORE INFORMATION

The best results can be achieved with Help version 3.0 if the text is organized such that one column has the bulk of the text to be presented and the other columns have relatively little text. The text might resemble the following: 

   column1column1  column2  column3column3column3column3column3column3col
                            column3column3column3...
As the size of the Help window is decreased, the text in the third column will wrap to remain displayed for as long as possible. To achieve this effect, format the text as paragraphs with an "outdent," or negative indent, as shown in the following example: 

   First line               Left margin and tab stop
   v                        v
   column1column1  column2  column3column3column3column3column3column3col
                            column3column3column3...
A typical format for paragraphs of this type is: 

   Left Margin 2.5"
   First Line -2.5"
It is also necessary to define a tab stop at 2.5 inches.

Having two columns of text in the outdent is merely an example. You can define as many or as few columns in that space as necessary.

If two columns with similar amounts of text in each are required, you can use the side-by-side paragraph formatting of Word for the Macintosh or Word for MS-DOS. Only two paragraphs side-by-side are supported by the Help compiler.

If neither of the tools mentioned above is available, or if more complicated tables are required, you can format the tables manually. Define appropriate tab stops and use them to align the columns of text. Format each physical line in the table as a separate paragraph. Select the entire table and format the paragraphs as "Keep Together." In the context of a Help system, this paragraph format disables word wrap.

The following is an example of a more complex table. In this example, (P*) is the paragraph mark at the end of a line: 

   column1column1   column2column2  column3column3column3column3colu(P*)
   column1column1   column2coul     column3column3column3column3colu(P*)
   column1column1                   column3column3column3column3(P*)
   column1column1(P*)

   newcol1newcol1   newcol2newcol2  newcol3newcol3newcol3newcol3...(P*)
As the size of the Help window is reduced, the text will not wrap. Instead, you must use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the window to view the remainder of the table.

Support for Word for Windows tables was added in Windows Help version 3.1.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10 3.50 4.00 95
KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: TlsHlp

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
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