Bill Thoen wrote: "Finally, Robert Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> suggested using pure HTML files for implementing a help system." One reason for considering a "pure" HTML option in implementing a help capability is that a developer can update the help facility seamlessly via downloads from the Internet . Within MapBasic one can detect whether an Internet connection is available, and if it is, to query the developer's site for application statistics. If the user's help information is out of date, updated modules can be sent to the user's application (of course, at the user's option). And one can do this with new pieces of the application itself, if desired. Another option is to put the help facility completely on the remote and just use conventional browsing to access the information, but I believe most developers require that "help" be available even when a user is not on-line. Note that both the Table-of-Contents and Index of HTMLHelp are available as HTML ActiveX components (they are a part of IE 4.0 and later versions). But the "keyword search" that one has with the "chm" approach would not be available and a developer would have to resort to something like the "Find/Search" facility of the Windows "Shell" function. And, as Bill mentioned, Internet connectivity is possible within MapBasic itself (no VC++, VB or Delphi DLLs required!). To see pieces of the MapBasic code one can use to implement such a scheme, go to http://home.earthlink.net/~maptoolssdk/ and look at the entries under "Internet Connectivity." (The Table of Contents on the IE version of this site uses a (local) HTMLHelp ActiveX component.) Robert Edwards The MapTools Company http://home.earthlink.net/~maptools/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Sponsor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Navglobe.com is the journal of global navigation and wireless communication. It covers issues, products, and services without emphasizing any one vendor. Interested? Visit http://www.navglobe.com and click "Subscribe." This also makes you eligible to win DeLorme's Earthmate GPS receiver and Solus Pro 3.0. Using Solus, you can download and view vector and raster street-level maps on a PalmOS handheld. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _______________________________________________________________________ List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put "unsubscribe MapInfo-L" in the message body.
