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Q68989: FIX: HELPMAKE Decodes Help Database Incorrectly

Article: Q68989
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.03,1.05,1.06,1.07
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 31-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft HELPMAKE Utility for MS-DOS and OS/2, versions 1.03, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If a concatenated help database is decoded with either "Decode" (/D) or "Decode
Unformatted" (/DU), HELPMAKE may be caught in an infinite loop that will
eventually fill the hard disk.

RESOLUTION
==========

When using HELPMAKE.EXE to decode concatenated help databases, you must use the
"Decode Split" option (/DS).

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with HELPMAKE for MS-DOS and OS/2.
This problem was corrected in HELPMAKE version 1.08.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If OS2.HLP is decoded with

  helpmake /D /Ooutfile OS2.HLP

HELPMAKE will decompress the first database in OS2.HLP over and over until either
the disk fills up or you stop the program (with a CTRL+BREAK, for example).

If OS2.HLP is decoded with

  helpmake /DS OS2.HLP

it is broken into STRUCT.HLP, MACROS.HLP, and TABLES.HLP. These help files can
then be decoded properly with the /D or /DU option.

If you don't know how a help file is assembled, the following are the steps to
take to decompress it:

1. Save a backup copy of the help file in case of problems.

2. Rename the help file to "TEMP.HLP".

3. Split the file as follows:

  HELPMAKE /DS TEMP.HLP

  If the file is not a concatenated database, you will get a single file with
  the name of the help database as it was originally built (the internal
  database name).

  If the file is a concatenated database, you will get individual help files
  with the internal database names. For OS2.HLP, these are STRUCT.HLP,
  MACROS.HLP, and TABLES.HLP.

4. Decode the resulting files as follows:

  HELPMAKE /D TEMP1.HLP /OTEMP1.SRC
  HELPMAKE /D TEMP2.HLP /OTEMP2.SRC

Additional query words: 1.03 1.05 1.06 1.07

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword2 kbHELPMAKE kbZNotKeyword3 kbHELPMAKE106DOS
Version           : MS-DOS:1.03,1.05,1.06,1.07
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

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