Vista .hlp struggles

[base2_julie]

I read that .hlp files will not run on Vista unless you download an executable from Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

My company currently uses RoboHelp for Word to create a WinHelp 4 .hlp file. Could anyone confirm that our users who are running Vista will not be able to view these .hlp files? I do not have a machine running Vista that I can check this on.

If that is true, any suggestions for the easiest way to convert these WinHelp 4 .hlp files to another format? I am on RoboHelp 7. I am completely new to help authoring and am pretty clueless at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

[Captiv8r]

Hi base2.julie

If your .HLP is the older 16 bit format, it should run with no issues on Vista. But if it's the newer 32 bit format, it will require a one time download of the Vista 32 bit WinHelp viewer in order to work.

Have you tested?

Sincerely... Rick

[base2_julie]

Thanks, Rick. I haven't tested, since my company doesn't have a computer running Vista.

Our .hlp is the 32 bit format, however.

I'm thinking of changing to a FlashHelp layout. Are there any drawbacks to this that I should know about? Does FlashHelp require any additional work/downloads from the end user?