Use the Compile tab to set up basic compilation features such as project titles, .CHM file names, and default (start) topics and windows. If you want your HTML Help project to include full-text search functionality, you select it at this tab. Additionally, if you want to create a custom build that uses only specific topics, use this tab to enter the build expression syntax.
Project Title: Identifies the project title.
Default Topic: Identifies the name of the default topic that is displayed when the Help system is launched. By default, the first topic used in the table of contents is assigned as the default topic.
Select: Opens a dialog for selecting the default topic.
Default Window: Selects a custom window to use for displaying an HTML Help system. Custom windows are available to assign after they are created.
Compiled File: Identifies the name of the compiled Microsoft HTML Help file (.CHM). By default, the program uses the project name with a .CHM extension.
Log File: Creates a log file (based on the name entered) that records statistics, errors and other information about the Microsoft HTML Help system as it's compiling. Log files can be opened and printed in the Windows Notepad. Each time the project is compiled, the log file is re-generated. The program does not generate a log file if this field is blank.
Build Expression: Specifies a build expression to use with build tags (for creating custom .CHM files).
Define: Opens the Define Build Tag Expression dialog for specifying the build tag expression to use with a project (or to modify an existing one or remove it).
Error Messages: Displays error messages in the output pane as the project is compiling.
File names: Displays all file names included in the .CHM file as the project is compiling.
Compile Full-Text Search: Adds a full-text search database into the compiled .CHM file for search functionality. The HTML Help viewer needs to be configured to include the Search tab for this feature to be accessible. This tab is selected by default from the Window Properties dialog.
Check for outdated files: Before running the project, notifies Help author if the project is out-of-date and prompts for a compilation.
Auto-compile outdated files: Before running the project, automatically compiles, if the current files are not up-to-date.