Microsoft Compiled HTML Help

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CHM (Compiled HTML Help, HTML Help or even Compressed Compiled Help Module ( s ) ) is a file format created by Microsoft that is used for help files under the Windows operating system. The associated system for the creation and display of files is called HTML Help.

CHM files are compressed archives, which in turn contain various files such as help texts in HTML format, images or Java scripts in compiled form.

The format is a Microsoft file format ITS ( InfoTech Storage) (similar to an LZX archive). In the archives in addition to the help files and metadata are stored, which describe the structure of documents displayed and evaluates an appropriate viewer. The structure of this metadata is documented on various websites.

Many e -books are available in the CHM format.

History

The format was introduced with Windows 98 and replaces the RTF -based WinHelp format. It served as the basis of. Lit file format, a file format for electronic books, which was abandoned in favor of also HTML-based Open eBook ( EPUB precursor ).

Software

CHM files are created with the Microsoft HTML Help Workshop is available for free. Under Microsoft Windows CHM files can also be displayed with the viewer Sumatra PDF (version 1.9). For displaying CHM files under Linux and other non- Microsoft operating systems exist eg chmsee, xchm, chmviewer and libchm that can be used comfortably for example, with the eyepiece. The developers of wxWidgets library includes support for reading CHM archives. A conversion into portable document format is possible with chm2pdf.