Dynamically loading help file from standalone application

Question

Hello All;
I have written into my VI an option to load a help file (.chm) from my main application using the 'Open URL in Default Browser.VI'.  When I am in Development Mode, this works perfectly.  However, after I have compiled my VIs into an executable, this no longer works (i.e. nothing loads).  I am wondering if since the CHM file is not a default LabVIEW VI/LLB if this is where my problem is?  I have attached a BMP which shouls what I am doing.
I did manage to get the CHM file to install with my application, but as mentioned, it will not load.  I have also attached a bitmap showing my build properties for this.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.
DJH
Attachments:
Loading CHM Files.zip ‏28 KB

Answer 1

The change required for path information is really not all that hard to understand. If you use something like Current VI's Path, it will return c:\folder\example.vi. When an exe is created, each VI is put into the exe which is really a type of llb file. To prove this, just change the extension to llb and you can view the contents just like like any other llb file. Then the Current VI's Path will return c:\folder\application.exe\example.vi. So, the extra strip path is required to get the folder name. Using the application property App.Kind in your program allows the same program to work in the development mode ans as an exe. It would be difficult for the app builder to automatically add a strip path because it be next to impossible to know what the purpose of the Current VI's Path function is intended by the programmer. You can also simulate the behavior of the app builder by creating an llb and testing all of your path's there before doing the build. Also, by default, the app builder does create a \Data folder but when you do the build, you can change where certain files get installed to.
Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 05-22-2006 08:44 AM
Attachments:
Strip Path.JPG ‏10 KB