Appendix B: Using KeyTools to Decompile a .CHM (MSHelp1) Project

Why Decompile a .CHM (MSHelp1) Project?

• There may be an occasion when you are handed a c.h.m. (MSHelp1) Project without its source h.h.p., h.h.c., h.h.k., or (X)H.T.M.L. files.
  • For example, this may occur when you receive a c.h.m. generated by a developer team.
  • For MSHelp2 Conversion and Integration, the most important file in this collection is the h.h.p. (H1 Project) file.
  • In order to retreive the h.h.p. file from a c.h.m., we need to decompile the c.h.m. first, and only then can we proceed further.
  • The best application I am aware of to accomplish this is KeyTools, which is part of the KeyWorks collection of tools specifically built for the Help Authoring/Technical Writing community.
  • KeyWorks is created by Cheryl Lockett Zubak and Ralph Walden, owners of Work Write, Inc. / KeyWorks Software. Both Cheryl and Ralph are legends in the international Help community and have worked intensively with Microsoft and their range of Help tools.
  • You can download the KeyTools package for free from their website http://www.keyworks.net. Many thanks to them for this offering to the Help community.

Step by Step

1. After downloading and installing the KeyTools package, create a Destination folder on your hard drive (C:\ recommended).
   1. This folder will hold the source files of the c.h.m. after decompiling has completed.
2. Open KeyTools from the Start > Programs menu.
   1. Click on the Decompile utility (first one in the table).
3. The Decompile a C.H.M. or I.T.S. File dialog box opens.
   1. In the Source file: textbox, use the Browse button to navigate to your c.h.m. file.
   2. Click the Open button.
   3. The c.h.m.'s address will show in the Source File textbox.
4. In the Destination folder: textbox use the Browse button to navigate to your Destination folder.
   1. Click the OK button.
   2. The Destination folder address will show in the textbox.
   3. Check the Create a project file (if there is not a check in the C.H.M. / I.T.S. file) checkbox.
   4. Click the OK button.
   5. The decompile process is started.
5. When the decompile process is finished, the Results dialog box opens.
   1. Review the results.
   2. Click the Close button to exit the Decompile application.
6. You can now begin the MSHelp2 Conversion and Integration process using the .hhp Project file from the decompiled .chm.

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