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How to Port an OS/2 .IPF File or its Part into Windows Help File (WinHelp)?Visual Prolog provides two ways of converting files from the .IPF format to the .RTF format:
Importing Topics from IPF Files into Windows Help Files with the Help of the Help MakerVisual Prolog VDE includes build-in Help Maker that provides the possibility to import topics from IPF files into Visual Prolog hyperbase and then to create output .RTF files, compile and test Windows Help file (WinHelp). Help Maker is extremely useful if you need to port only a part of an .IPF file or a file that has external links, because:
Importing .IPF File
Parsing TopicsAfter choosing the source file or hyperbase the Help Maker parses topics, scans for hypertext links, and tries to resolve these links. At this stage unresolved links can appear if the file being imported has links to other files. While import a user can choose whether to:
If the user decides to remove unresolved links, green hotspots marking links will be
formatted as a plain text. Loading TopicsAfter parsing source topics, they can be loaded into the current hyperbase with the help of the Import from <filename> dialog. The user can choose whether to load the whole source file or a hyperbase, or to load definite topics.
Note that separate topics you are importing can have links to the topics you are not importing. This can cause appearance of unresolved links. Loading a Whole File or HyperbasePress the Load All button. Adding Topics to a Hyperbase
Reestablishing or Deleting Irrelevant LinksThe detailed description of the process is done in the topic "Reestablishing or Deleting Irrelevant Links while Import" of the online Help (In the Search index select: "import: unresolved links"). Preserving Hierarchical Structure of the .IPF fileThe Help Maker import facility does not preserve hierarchical structure of the .IPF file. The Help writer can reestablish hierarchy using the Help Maker Browse facility. You can find a description of the Help Maker Browse facility in the topic "Assigning Browse Sequences" of the online Help (In the Search index select: "browse sequences: creating). Creating Output .RTF and Project FilesTo save a Help hyperbase as an RTF-format file choose the Project | Write RTF command. A basic Help project file will be generated by the Help Maker automatically. Compiling Windows HelpRun Help compiler to make a final Help file using Project | Compile Help command. Testing Windows Help systemTo test your Help System call the Microsoft Windows Help system (WinHelp.EXE) with the help of the Project | Display Help File. Converting of .IPF Files into the .RTF Format with the Help of the Document Handling Package (DOC_TOOL)The Document Handling Package provides a set of tools for parsing and converting documents of different types. You can see an example of converting of .IPF files into the .RTF format in the DOC_TOOL\Example directory. |