Create What's This tips for forms or controls

1. Create the source file by using the text editor or word-processing program of your choice. For information about creating the source file, see the Help that comes with Microsoft Help Workshop. Make sure to save the source file in Rich Text Format.
   
   
2. Compile the Help file by using Microsoft Help Workshop.
   
   
3. Display the property sheet for the form and specify the file name for the compiled Help file in the HelpFile property box.

   Note   For best results, put the Help file in the same folder as your application. That way, you can keep the setting for the HelpFile property the same for each site that uses your application, but allow users to install the application in the folder of their choice. If you omit a path setting in this property, Microsoft Access looks for the Help file in the folder where your application is installed.

4. In the HelpContextID property box for the form, type the number of the topic (a number other than 0) that will be displayed when a user clicks the What's This button and then clicks the background of the form. This topic would generally cover assistance for the whole form.
   
   
5. In the HelpContextID property box for each control on the form that can receive the focus, type the number of the topic that will be displayed when the user clicks the What's This button and then clicks the control.

Notes

• You must map the values set for the HelpContextID property to the context strings in your Help system. For more information, see the Help file that comes with Microsoft Help Workshop.
  
  
• If a control doesn't have a custom Help topic, the custom Help topic for the form will be displayed when the user clicks the What's This button and then clicks the control. If there is no custom Help topic for the form, Microsoft Access displays the Office Assistant dialog box.
  
  
• If you enter the context ID of the Help file topic as a positive number, the Help topic will be displayed in a full Help topic window. If you add a minus sign (–) in front of the context ID, the Help topic will be displayed in a pop-up window. It is important to note that the context ID does not have a negative number when authored in Microsoft Help Workshop. You must add the minus sign when setting the property to make the topic display in the pop-up window.
  
  
• You can't display custom What's This tips through the Office Assistant.