Hypertext links comparison

Hypertext links (also called hotspots) are electronic links that allow users to move from topic to topic in a Help system. The following information explains how they work in WinHelp and HTML Help.

WinHelp

Microsoft HTML Help

WinHelp jumps link text and images to topics

HTML hyperlinks link text, images and multimedia to topics

Jumps can be in the form of text, images and authorable buttons

Hyperlinks can be in the form of text, images, and video clips

Destination topics can be displayed in main, secondary and popup windows

Destination topics can be displayed in HTML Help viewer, popup windows and frames

Destinations include WinHelp topics (in .HLP file), external WinHelp topics (in other .HLP files), HTML topics (in .CHM files), Web and intranet sites, and HTML pages

Destinations include HTML topics (in .CHM file), remote topics (in external .CHM files), Web and intranet sites, email addresses, FTP sites, newsgroups and multimedia (sound and video clips)

Supports jumps to subtopics in the same WinHelp topic (mid-topic jumps)

Supports links to subtopics in the same HTML topic (bookmarks)

Macro hotspots run special scripts that accomplish WinHelp-specific links such as shortcuts that run applications

Link controls link to related topics, ALinks and keywords, HTML Help controls link to WinHelp topics, and run applications via shortcuts

Images with multiple hotspots (SHED clickable images)

Images with multiple hotspots (image maps)