Is it possible to enable Visual Styles in a CHM (Compiled HTML Help) File?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12589865
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When our Compiled HTML Help (.chm) file (created with Author-It) is opened, it looks 'dated' because the HTML Help application (even on Windows 7) doesn't appear to enable 'visual styles'. Is there a way to enable visual styles (common controls 6) when opening a .chm file?
HTML Help screenshot http://www.arachnetech.com/temp/HTMLHelp.png
This is Windows 7, but note the old-style Contents/Index/Search tabs and (although less important) the Windows 2000-style buttons in the dialog.
If this is a limitation of compiled HTML help, is there something newer and better that we could use?
Solution
Not easily. If it doesn't automatically, it doesn't autodetect XP+ theming support, and thus won't react to later themes.
It might be possible by putting a hh.exe.manifest file next to it. (in the windows dir, next to the hh.exe file), but probably hh.exe is only a runner for the main hhctrl.ocx, and I don't know if the activeX applet would inherit the manifest.
I also don't know if this kind of XP manifests can also be in an external file (like UAC manifests), and/or if they need special installing if they do.
I dug into my links, and I found a reference how to create such manifest for older Delphi's:
http://delphi.about.com/library/bluc/text/uc111601a.htm
It also warns to some of the dangers
updated I suddenly remember that there are indeed windows style flags in the CHM too.
See table 5.51 in http://chmspec.nongnu.org/latest/INI.html#HHP and then specially field 14 and 15
OTHER TIPS
One answer (not the one I was looking for) is to use a 3rd Party CHM viewer. Examples found by Google (I've not personally tried these) are:
