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Microsoft HTML Help VS CHM Editor

Compare Microsoft HTML Help VS CHM Editor and see what are their differences

Microsoft HTML Help logo Microsoft HTML Help

Microsoft HTML Help is the standard help system for the Windows platform.

CHM Editor logo CHM Editor

Best solution to edit CHM files
  • Microsoft HTML Help Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27
  • CHM Editor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-25

Microsoft HTML Help features and specs

  • Widely Supported
    Microsoft HTML Help is widely supported on Windows platforms, making it a reliable choice for developing Windows-based applications.
  • Comprehensive Features
    HTML Help provides a range of features such as indexing, search, and cross-referencing, which are essential for creating detailed and user-friendly help documentation.
  • Ease of use
    The system allows developers to use familiar tools and languages (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), making it easier to create and manage extensive help systems.
  • Integration with Applications
    It allows for easy integration with applications to provide context-sensitive help, enhancing the user experience by linking directly from application features to relevant help topics.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft HTML Help

  • Outdated Technology
    As a technology that hasn't seen significant updates, it may not support modern layouts and functionalities expected in current documentation standards.
  • Platform Limitation
    HTML Help is primarily designed for Windows, which can be a limitation for applications intended to be cross-platform.
  • Security Concerns
    Certain features in HTML Help have raised security concerns, and running HTML-based help files can expose vulnerabilities.
  • Complex Setup
    Creating and configuring help files might require substantial effort, particularly for developers unfamiliar with its specific setup process and requirements.

CHM Editor features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    CHM Editor is designed with an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and edit CHM files, even without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Multi-language Support
    The tool supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a broader audience and allowing the editing of CHM files in different languages.
  • WYSIWYG Editor
    CHM Editor features a 'What You See Is What You Get' editor, enabling users to immediately see the results of their edits without needing to compile the CHM file first.
  • Import and Export Abilities
    The software allows users to import and export various formats such as HTML, making it versatile for different documentation needs.
  • Integrated CHM Decompiler
    CHM Editor comes with a built-in decompiler, which allows users to extract and edit the content of CHM files directly without needing external tools.

Possible disadvantages of CHM Editor

  • Cost
    CHM Editor is not free software, and the cost may be prohibitive for some users, especially those who need it for occasional use only.
  • Limited Advanced Editing Features
    While it offers a solid set of basic editing tools, advanced users may find it lacking in more sophisticated features available in other professional documentation tools.
  • Platform Limitation
    CHM Editor is primarily designed for Windows, which limits its accessibility for users on other operating systems such as macOS or Linux.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported occasional crashes and stability issues, which can disrupt the editing process and lead to the loss of unsaved work.

Microsoft HTML Help videos

RoboHelp 10: Enhanced Microsoft HTML Help (CHM) output format

CHM Editor videos

CHM Editor video tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - GridinSoft CHM Editor: The Best Helper

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft HTML Help and CHM Editor)
Document Management
30 30%
70% 70
Document Management System
Knowledge Management
36 36%
64% 64
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft HTML Help and CHM Editor, you can also consider the following products

WinCHM - Creating CHM file, Make CHM file, Web Help. WinCHM Pro - Help authoring software (CHM, WebHelp, DOC, PDF) . With this powerful tool you can not only create chm file from scratch, but also convert a set of existing HTML files to a chm file.

Kchmviewer - Kchmviewer is a free, open-source CHM (MS HTML help) and EPUB viewer for Unix, Mac and Windows...

ExtraCHM - A fully featured reader for Compiled HTML (chm) documents.

Read CHM - Read CHM is ultimate CHM (Compiled HTML Help) file reader.

KEL CHM Creator - KEL CHM Creator a is flexible, powerful and free (freeware) CHM creator that uses Microsoft® HTML Help Workshop to combine your HTML files into one compressed and compact CHM (Compiled Help Modules…

GnoCHM - GnoCHM is a CHM file viewer. It is designed to integrate nicely with Gnome.