• [OT] Help with MS Help is really unHelpful

    From pete dashwood@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Wed Sep 13 17:11:38 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    A few people have already downloaded the free S2N component and found
    that they receive a zip package which contains (amongst other things) a Windows Help file (STRING2NUM.HLP).

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm currently using. (You get redirected to a MS web page with a bunch of
    flannel about Help no longer being supported, some Viewers for Win 7,
    and a bunch of alternative suggestions...none of which are actually practicable if you don't have the help file source (most users WON'T
    have it...; for me it is on an XP machine which is archived to an attic
    and which I really don't have time or inclination to break out right now.)

    I left some suggestions of my own on the page under "Was this page helpful?"... :-)

    Meanwhile, I would suggest that people who want to know the properties
    and methods available from the .dll should use an Object Browser. (If
    you have Visual Studio installed, there is one in the Visual VB tool...)
    There are also free ones available for download.

    I'm really sorry about this, but if you download the component and are a
    bit lost how to use it, mail me privately and I'll... help.

    Pete.
    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...

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  • From Moose@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Wed Sep 13 03:49:08 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 3:11:47 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood wrote:
    A few people have already downloaded the free S2N component and found
    that they receive a zip package which contains (amongst other things) a Windows Help file (STRING2NUM.HLP).

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm currently using. (You get redirected to a MS web page with a bunch of flannel about Help no longer being supported, some Viewers for Win 7,
    and a bunch of alternative suggestions...none of which are actually practicable if you don't have the help file source (most users WON'T
    have it...; for me it is on an XP machine which is archived to an attic
    and which I really don't have time or inclination to break out right now.)

    I left some suggestions of my own on the page under "Was this page helpful?"... :-)

    Meanwhile, I would suggest that people who want to know the properties
    and methods available from the .dll should use an Object Browser. (If
    you have Visual Studio installed, there is one in the Visual VB tool...) There are also free ones available for download.

    I'm really sorry about this, but if you download the component and are a
    bit lost how to use it, mail me privately and I'll... help.

    Pete.
    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...


    WInHLP still works fine under Windows 10, x86 and x64, all it needs is a modified installer. Check out:

    Win32HLP Support for Windows 10, etc http://moosesoftware.16mb.com/#Win32HLP_Support_for_Windows_10_etc

    You can also recompile your HLP file to CHM format, which brings other challenges / issues.

    Moose

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  • From docdwarf@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Wed Sep 13 11:51:37 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    In article <f1rt0gF64r9U1@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood <dashwood@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time >writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm >currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years? Why, I've got modules running
    in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

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  • From pete dashwood@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Thu Sep 14 17:14:58 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 13/09/2017 10:49 PM, Moose wrote:
    On Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 3:11:47 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood wrote:
    A few people have already downloaded the free S2N component and found
    that they receive a zip package which contains (amongst other things) a
    Windows Help file (STRING2NUM.HLP).

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time
    writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm
    currently using. (You get redirected to a MS web page with a bunch of
    flannel about Help no longer being supported, some Viewers for Win 7,
    and a bunch of alternative suggestions...none of which are actually
    practicable if you don't have the help file source (most users WON'T
    have it...; for me it is on an XP machine which is archived to an attic
    and which I really don't have time or inclination to break out right now.) >>
    I left some suggestions of my own on the page under "Was this page
    helpful?"... :-)

    Meanwhile, I would suggest that people who want to know the properties
    and methods available from the .dll should use an Object Browser. (If
    you have Visual Studio installed, there is one in the Visual VB tool...)
    There are also free ones available for download.

    I'm really sorry about this, but if you download the component and are a
    bit lost how to use it, mail me privately and I'll... help.

    Pete.
    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...


    WInHLP still works fine under Windows 10, x86 and x64, all it needs is a
    modified installer. Check out:

    Win32HLP Support for Windows 10, etc http://moosesoftware.16mb.com/#Win32HLP_Support_for_Windows_10_etc

    You can also recompile your HLP file to CHM format, which brings other
    challenges / issues.

    Moose

    Thanks very much for that.

    I'll try it when I get a moment, but I think I'll be making help web
    based in the future.

    Pete.

    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...

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  • From pete dashwood@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Thu Sep 14 17:19:58 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 13/09/2017 11:51 PM, docdwarf@panix.com wrote:
    In article <f1rt0gF64r9U1@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood <dashwood@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time
    writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm
    currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years? Why, I've got modules running
    in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

    Yep, sure is a fine howdy-doo when a person can't read somethin' they
    wrote just a little while back...

    I blame the gover-ment.. them varmints are allus screwin' ever'thin' up...

    Pete.

    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...

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  • From robin.vowels@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 06:55:30 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 3:20:01 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood wrote:
    On 13/09/2017 11:51 PM, doc....@panix.com wrote:
    In article <f1rt....@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood <dash----@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time
    writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm
    currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years? Why, I've got modules running
    in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

    Yep, sure is a fine howdy-doo when a person can't read somethin' they
    wrote just a little while back...

    I blame the gover-ment.. them varmints are allus screwin' ever'thin' up...

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

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  • From Gary Scott@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 11:20:20 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:
    On Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 3:20:01 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood wrote:
    On 13/09/2017 11:51 PM, doc....@panix.com wrote:
    In article <f1rt....@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood <dash----@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in >>>> web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time >>>> writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime >>>> after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm
    currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years? Why, I've got modules running >>> in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a
    bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

    Yep, sure is a fine howdy-doo when a person can't read somethin' they
    wrote just a little while back...

    I blame the gover-ment.. them varmints are allus screwin' ever'thin' up...

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

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  • From docdwarf@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 16:26:18 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    In article <917a2e29-6fe5-4bf8-93eb-681513874583@googlegroups.com>,
    <robin.vowels@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 3:20:01 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood wrote:
    On 13/09/2017 11:51 PM, doc....@panix.com wrote:
    In article <f1rt....@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood <dash----@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in
    web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of time >> >> writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should
    look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime
    after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm
    currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years? Why, I've got modules running >> > in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a
    bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

    Yep, sure is a fine howdy-doo when a person can't read somethin' they
    wrote just a little while back...

    I blame the gover-ment.. them varmints are allus screwin' ever'thin' up...

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    I fired up my Altavista and this lead me to:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwqPBlSxb-0

    Seems like the costume- and hairstyle-designers got their training from
    the 1939 'Wizard of Oz'.

    DD

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  • From docdwarf@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 16:28:55 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    In article <oqog84$1pd$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:

    [snip]

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to
    that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    DD

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  • From Gary Scott@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 11:34:56 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 9/30/2017 11:28 AM, docdwarf@panix.com wrote:
    In article <oqog84$1pd$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:

    [snip]

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    The whole world seems to have gone wacko. US education system has deteriorated and those in charge seem intent on damaging it further, so
    I'm not hopeful.

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  • From Spiros Bousbouras@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sat Sep 30 17:41:57 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On Sat, 30 Sep 2017 16:28:55 +0000 (UTC)
    docdwarf@panix.com () wrote:
    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    alt.politics

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  • From docdwarf@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sun Oct 1 16:04:16 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    In article <FHQzB.880561$sC5.174164@fx45.am4>,
    Spiros Bousbouras <spibou@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Sat, 30 Sep 2017 16:28:55 +0000 (UTC)
    docdwarf@panix.com () wrote:
    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to
    that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    alt.politics

    All one can find there is talk, nothing gets handled.

    DD

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  • From docdwarf@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sun Oct 1 16:07:38 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    In article <oqoh3h$9c9$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 11:28 AM, docdwarf@panix.com wrote:
    In article <oqog84$1pd$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:

    [snip]

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to
    that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    The whole world seems to have gone wacko. US education system has >deteriorated and those in charge seem intent on damaging it further, so
    I'm not hopeful.

    Mr Scott, such unoriginal sentiments have been proven wrong almost as
    often as they have been voiced. What's next... that stuff they're callin' 'music' is a buncha durned noise, too?

    DD

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  • From Gary Scott@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Sun Oct 1 12:32:46 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 10/1/2017 11:07 AM, docdwarf@panix.com wrote:
    In article <oqoh3h$9c9$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 11:28 AM, docdwarf@panix.com wrote:
    In article <oqog84$1pd$1@dont-email.me>,
    Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:

    [snip]

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

    Mr Scott, in all seriousness... when people say they dislike how things
    are being done in my country I'll deadpan 'There might be something to
    that... where do you see this situation being handled better?'

    The whole world seems to have gone wacko. US education system has
    deteriorated and those in charge seem intent on damaging it further, so
    I'm not hopeful.

    Mr Scott, such unoriginal sentiments have been proven wrong almost as
    often as they have been voiced. What's next... that stuff they're callin' 'music' is a buncha durned noise, too?

    DD

    lol, yes, it is...

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  • From pete dashwood@1:2320/100 to comp.lang.cobol on Mon Oct 2 22:32:35 2017
    From Newsgroup: comp.lang.cobol

    On 1/10/2017 5:20 AM, Gary Scott wrote:
    On 9/30/2017 8:55 AM, robin.vowels@gmail.com wrote:
    On Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 3:20:01 PM UTC+10, pete dashwood
    wrote:
    On 13/09/2017 11:51 PM, doc....@panix.com wrote:
    In article <f1rt....@mid.individual.net>,
    pete dashwood-a <dash----@enternet.co.nz> wrote:

    [snip]

    This Help file contains a full description of the component, its
    Properties, Methods, descriptions, sample code of how to include it in >>>>> web pages and COBOL desktop, etc. I spent a considerable amount of
    time
    writing it, seven years ago.

    As people have gone to the trouble to download it, I decided I should >>>>> look at it and update it if it needs updating.

    Can't do that. Microsoft dropped support for their Help files sometime >>>>> after XP and the file is inaccessible on the windows 8.1 platform I'm >>>>> currently using.

    OS incompatibility in a mere seven years?-a Why, I've got modules
    running
    in Prod that ain't been compiled in double that... and don't get me
    started on what those kids're callin' 'music' nowadays, neither, it's a >>>> bunch'a durned noise...

    DD

    Yep, sure is a fine howdy-doo when a person can't read somethin' they
    wrote just a little while back...

    I blame the gover-ment.. them varmints are allus screwin' ever'thin'
    up...

    The country's in the very best of hands ....

    Ha! I for one am terrified...

    I have a Godson in Canada who feels the same way.

    And I know people who are trying to emigrate to NZ... (It ISN'T
    Paradise, but I don't want to live anywhere else... :-))

    We just had an election here and are in limbo at the moment while the
    final votes are finally counted, so we can see which of several possible coalitions will govern us for the next 3 years. I told all my friends:
    "Don't vote; the Government will get in..." but nobody listened to me...

    Still, you might find a little solace in the following:

    1. The USA is NOT the only country in the world that is experiencing
    division and upheaval.

    2. The Times they are a'changin'... The current President has a
    different style from any of his predecessors and it will take some
    adjustment for all of us.

    3. Memes and fashions do not last forever. Both good and bad things have
    their time and then they pass.

    4. Although there seems to be nothing but evil in the world, there are
    still good people who have kindness and compassion and history has shown
    that common sense usually prevails (eventually...); repressive regimes
    fall, greedy, self-serving politicians eventually get their
    come-uppance, and life goes on.

    I believe it is down to each of us to decide how we will view things and
    how we will interact with each other. Don't let fear and worry spoil
    your enjoyment of your life.

    Pete.
    --
    I used to write COBOL; now I can do anything...

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