Overview

One of the standard features that users expect to find on any Windows application is a help system in the standard format. Outside Windows, implementing help systems is a tedious and troublesome task and, as a result, is seldom accomplished satisfactorily. Windows provides a standard help system that is relatively simple to implement and can be used to provide the user with a comprehensive, context-sensitive, on-screen guide to the operation of an application. In addition, the user will almost certainly know how to use the help system already without extra tuition. Whatever you may think about the effectiveness of the Windows help system, these facts make the incorporation of the system a necessity for most serious applications.

Using the Help System

From the user's point of view, the first few attempts to use the help system are likely to be fraught with difficulties. The help system tends to be so comprehensive that is not easy to use. However, once it has been mastered, the user can be satisfied that the help provided for every other Windows application will work in the same way.

As a general rule, the Help menu on the menu bar contains the following options:

The Contents option is the usual entry...