How to open a chm file in windows 8. How to open a .CHM file

Announcement

CHM Document File Format

CHM (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help) files are proprietary files of Microsoft. They are HTML pages used for online formatting and indexing navigation tools. CHM files are compressed and hosted using binary files, and are often used to host application documentation. The first release of the CHM format came with Windows 98 (subsequent OS versions also support this format). The main advantage of such files is compatibility with most web browsers (regardless of OS). However, the main disadvantage is the ability to launch certain applications using CHM files, which causes certain problems.

Technical information about CHM files

CHM files can be found in Windows Help files. Such files at one time became a replacement for Microsoft WinHelp files. It is worth noting that both the table of contents and the HTML pages themselves in this format support 28 languages. It is possible to compress documents, merge them, and search through documents. You can also add tags, images, text, hyperlinks, and more to your HTML pages to improve the quality of your Help files. Thanks to its reverse engineering capabilities, CHM files are supported by many different document viewers. The LIT file extension is a modified version of CHM files (it's worth noting that the CHM format is also used by e-readers). Despite the lack of support for the Unicode encoding, a large number of other encodings are supported. Compression is performed using the LZX compression method. Unpacking is carried out using HTML Help Workshop and 7-Zip programs.

Additional information about the CHM format

This format was originally used to create reference materials using HTML documents linked together by hypertext links. It can also be used in electronic books and documents. The format itself is an LZX archive, which stores HTML files interconnected by links.

Opening CHM files

You can open and edit a file with this format using special software, some “readers” for viewing e-books. The necessary functionality for viewing content is available in Windows.

Option 1: FBReader

This program specializes in opening and editing e-books. You can view the contents of a CHM document using the following instructions:

Option 2: CoolReader

Another program designed to open CHM files. The instructions look like this:

There are no problems with reading CHM documents in CoolReader, but if the file is too large, it may not load completely or with an error.

Option 3: ICE Book Reader

Another “reader” that allows you to view a CHM file:

Option 4: Caliber

This is also a multifunctional reader, capable of opening and processing the file format in question. As in the previous option, you will have to add the file to a special application library. Opening instructions:

Option 5: SumatraPDF

The next application that allows you to open CHM files on Windows is SumatraPDF, a multifunctional document viewer. Instructions for its use are as follows:

Option 6: Hamster PDF Reader

This is another document viewer that supports CHM format. Opening occurs in the following steps:

Option 7: Universal Viewer

The CHM format is well processed by various universal file viewing programs. With their help, you can open not only CHM files, but also music, video, graphics, etc. files. In the case of this article, the instructions will look like this:

Option 8: Built-in Windows Features

By default, CHM files are opened in a standard Windows viewer. This is as it should be, since this format was originally developed for creating help in Windows.

If you have not previously installed any programs designed to open CHM files and have not changed the default operating system settings, then a file with this extension should open in the Windows interface by default. This will be indicated by the file icon - a piece of paper with a yellow question mark. In this case, it will be enough to double-click on the file with the left mouse button.

Provided that another application is installed in the system to open this file, it will have the corresponding icon of the program that is registered in the system to open the file. Fortunately, in this case you can open the file very easily using a standard Windows viewer. Follow the instructions:

Option 9: Htm2Chm

This program does not allow you to view the contents of CHM files, unlike the options discussed above. However, with its help you can unzip the file into individual elements and open them using standard Windows programs.

Instructions for using Htm2Chm look like this in the context of this article:

1. First you need to install the program correctly. Download the executable file from the official website.
2. Double-click on the downloaded file. A window will open asking you in English if you want to continue with the installation. Click "Yes".




3. In the next window just click on "Next".




4. Now you see the license agreement in English. Place a marker next to the item "I accept the agreement". Click "Next".




5. A window will appear where you will be asked to select the directory where this application will be installed on the computer. The default is drive C, Program Files folder. It is recommended not to change the default settings, but simply click on "Next".




6. In the next window also click on "Next".




7. At this step you need to check the boxes next to the items "Desktop icon" And "Quick Launch icon". Click "Next".




8. A window will open showing all the basic information about the program, as well as the configured settings. Here you need to click on "Install".




9. Wait for the installation to complete. Check the box next to the item "Launch htm2chm" and press "Finish".

After installing the program, you can begin unpacking the CHM archive:

1. Open the program. By default, its main interface will have several elements intended for creating and editing archives. In the case of this article, you need to view the contents of the CHM file. To do this, select a tool "Decompiler".




2. In field "File" indicate the location of the object on the computer’s hard drive. The address can be entered manually or use the folder icon located opposite the line to call "Conductor".




3. In the opened "Explorer" find the file you need and click on the button "Open".




4. Pay attention to the line "Folder". Here you specify the directory where the archive contents will be unpacked. By default, it is specified as the same as the folder where the archive was located. You can change the value of this field by specifying a different folder to save the archive contents. To do this, click on the folder icons that are located to the right of the field.




5. The folder browser window will open. In it you need to select the folder where you want to unzip. Once selected, click "OK".



6. Now in the window "Decompiler" click on the button "Start".




7. A window appears warning you that the archive will be unpacked. The user will also be asked if he would like to automatically navigate to the folder here where the unzipping will be performed. It is recommended to click "Yes".




8. When unzipping is complete, it will open "Conductor" with the folder where the CHM archive elements were moved.




9. All elements that were in the archive can be viewed individually in those programs that support opening this format. For example, HTML files are viewed in a browser, images in a standard Windows viewer.

As you can see, there are many options for opening files with the CHM extension on the Windows operating system. This article discusses only the most popular programs; you may be using other software to view the contents of the CHM archive.

The .chm file format was created by Microsoft in 1997. It was intended to replace the .hlp extension, which was used for reference information. CHM is an acronym for “Compressed HTML Help”. This means that materials in this format have standard Internet HTML markup, contain hyperlinks and can have a multi-level section structure. Thanks to the ability to place anchors inside and between articles, the .chm extension has also begun to be used by various companies and ordinary users. In addition to reference information about the operation of the operating system, other data is saved in this format, for example, educational booklets or user manuals.

All Microsoft desktop operating systems, starting with Windows 98, have a built-in utility for reading documents with the .chm extension. Before using it, make sure that the document name is written in Latin and does not contain the characters “_” (underscore) or “#” (sharp). Due to Cyrillic letters, the file may not be opened by a standard program. Rename the document if you are not sure that they are not in the title. Next, in Windows OS, double-click on the file icon. Open chm help looks something like this: If the document does not open with a mouse click, let’s try to manually launch the utility designed to read it. To do this, move the cursor to the file, press the right key and select the “Open with” section, then click “Select program”. In the window that appears, press the “Browse” button. In this way, you will be taken to the directory of programs installed on your OS - “Program Files”. But the required utility is located in the “Windows” folder, so return to the list of system partitions on drive C. Go to the “Windows” directory and find the “hh” program. Select it with the cursor and click “Open” and then “OK” in the “Select a program” window. If the file won't open, check to see if it's locked for reading. To do this, right-click on the document and select the “Properties” section. Next, open the “Security” tab. If there is a “Deny” checkbox in the “Reading” column, go to the “Advanced” section.

In the window that opens, click “Change permissions.” On the tab that appears, select the “Edit” button. In the next section, uncheck the prohibiting checkboxes and click OK. If previous manipulations with the file did not help to open it, try another program. This method is also suitable for those who do not use Windows OS. Since the chm file has standard HTML markup, any browser can read it. In addition, such documents are opened through many popular readers:

Let's look at the question of how to open a chm file. Materials of this type can be found on a computer and, as a rule, are opened by the system by default, but you can work with them not only using OS tools.

Definition

Before talking about this, it should be noted that the corresponding extension has been received in the help format of the Windows operating system. Materials of this format have a set of HTML pages, most often linked by links. If the operating system does not initially open the file you specify, there are a number of steps you need to take.

Right-click on the file and “open with”. We use the function of selecting the desired program manually. Using Explorer, go to drive “C”, and then open the “Windows” folder. After this, you need to select the program “hh.exe”.

Thus, the question of how to open chm will be resolved, and the file will open. Next, we will talk about several more programs that will allow you to view context-sensitive help materials for the Windows operating system.

Help file chm - how to open: Cool Reader

The task is easy to cope with using the Cool Reader program. This application was created for reading e-books. Among other things, the function of reading texts “by voice” is implemented through the program automatically recognizes. It is possible to read from an archive, as well as save text in a variety of formats.

Let's try out the ICE Book

How else can I open chm? You can also use the ICE Book application. This program for reading various e-books is rich in functions. The entire variety of encodings that the operating system you use can interact with is supported. The program is capable of displaying files directly from a directory, as well as an archive, without the need to install additional tools.

The user has the opportunity to convert e-books into various formats. This development is the first program that does not use Microsoft Reader modules to work with the chm format. The user can maintain his own database of books, creating a library. All open documents are automatically placed in it.

There is a convenient search by genre, titles and authors. The application automatically finds all the information about the document on the World Wide Web, which makes working with it easier. The application offers numerous functions for a comfortable reading experience. Text smoothing has been implemented, as well as several options for convenient scrolling of books.

Automatic scrolling adjusts to the user, as well as text density. You can use the bookmark function, as well as remember the position of the last book closed. This saving occurs automatically. For better display, the text can be reformatted by the program itself.

Residents of the CIS can use the application for free and also enjoy reading books by voice. Optionally, books are compressed to consume less physical memory. There is the ability to encrypt information.

Other applications

There are several other programs that open the format we need. One of them is AlReader. The application is created for convenient reading of text files, as well as e-books. This solution supports the use of several separately configured profiles. For example, “Day” and “Night”.

In addition to the ability to change the font, there is also text smoothing and selection of its size. It should be said that the BookReader application can also cope with this task. Now you know what the chm format is, how to open it and how it works. We hope our tips are useful to you.

A Russian help file is wandering around the Internet splan50.chm from simple drawing of diagrams sPLAN version 5. Help is good, very detailed and understandable even for beginners. (This prompted some clever people to decompile the chm file and post its pages on the Internet in the form of sites to attract those same newcomers.)
Latest version of the program sPLAN 7, but no one is in a hurry to translate the help system. There are not many differences in the versions, so you can learn from the old help.

And here comes the difficulty!
Files found and downloaded from the Internet splan50.chm refuse to display normally.

Problem displaying chm file

Instead of useful information, we see only a message about canceling viewing on all pages. Something like "Navigation to the webpage was canceled" depends on the operating system language.
And on the left - a teasing list of sections is normally displayed.

Solution

It turns out that there is something secretly working for our security in Windows 7 and Windows Vista Investment manager, who, with his electronic head, arbitrarily and quietly decides whether he trusts the received file and whether it is worth showing its contents to us!
So, this damn Manager considers the Internet to be an unconditionally UNreliable source, and help files to be dangerous, so he blocks our freshly downloaded splan50.chm in such a strange manner without explicit notifications... Microsoft's logic is often not clear.

The good thing is that we can easily remove the lock:
1. Right-click our .CHM file and select Properties
2. On the General tab, click the button labeled "Unblock"
3. Click the “Apply” and “OK” buttons

That's it, now you can dive into studying sPLAN who haven't done it yet.

Remember that we have unlocked one specific file. And if you download another one right now CHM To display it normally you will have to unlock it again.

Files

[Updated 04/11/2015] WinHlp32 element installer in MS Windows 7 (32/64)
▼ 🕗 11/04/15 ⚖️ 1.3 Mb ⇣ 16Hello, reader! My name is Igor, I'm 45, I'm a Siberian and an avid amateur electronics engineer. I came up with, created and have been maintaining this wonderful site since 2006.
For more than 10 years, our magazine has existed only at my expense.

Good! The freebie is over. If you want files and useful articles, help me!

--
Thank you for your attention!
Igor Kotov, editor-in-chief of Datagor magazine

Russian help file for sPLAN. If someone doesn't have it yet, you're welcome.
By the way, you will probably be able to avoid problems with launching the file, because I packed it into an archive, in case the Attachment Manager doesn’t notice it.
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File extension	.chm