html chm help file won't launch from VBA, sometimes

[xlrotor]

I am using xl2003 and the API way of launching an html help file.
Everything works great most of the time, but sometimes the chm file
refuses to launch.

Has anyone experienced this behavior, and have any solution?

Thanks

 

[Peter T]

It always launches for me. Assuming of course all the API arguments are
"appropriate".

Regards,
Peter T

 

[xlrotor]

When it stops launching, I have to exit and restart excel to get it
working again.

It's possible it might have something to do with VBA compiling the
code while a "handle" to the html file is floating around somewhere.

Brian

 

[Peter T]

Your explanation makes sense but I couldn't recreate any problem. I did
this -

Launched a chm with the html-help API in my xla
Manually closed the chm
Recompiled the xla with Debug - Compile
Re-launched the chm with the API - worked fine.

I could be wrong but I think the API driven chm is attached to a 'Process',
which is the Excel instance not the VBA project. If so, maybe even
recompiling the project is not relevant.

Regards,
Peter T

 

[Brian Murphy]

I've tried, although not exhaustively just yet, to find a repeatable
set of circumstances that leads to the failure to display.

I'm getting ready to ship a new release of my Excel application to my
users. I want to make the switch from old style HLP to HTML CHM help
because Vista doesn't autmatically support HLP, evidently for security
reasons. I'm pretty happy with how my converted CHM file has turned
out (I use ForeHelp).

This little problem of occasionally losing the ability to display the
CHM file is the only open issue.

When I figure it out, I'll post back what I found. Hopefully sooner
than later.

Brian