Convert MSHC to MSHI

Understanding mshc and mshi file formats

MSHC (Microsoft Help Container) files are used by Microsoft Help Viewer to store compiled help documentation, typically for software development kits and technical documentation. These files contain the actual help content, such as HTML pages, images, and other resources, in a compressed format.

MSHI (Microsoft Help Index) files are index files associated with Microsoft Help Viewer. They provide metadata and indexing information that allows the help system to efficiently search and display topics from the MSHC files. MSHI files do not contain the help content itself but are essential for navigation and search functionality within the help system.

How to convert mshc to mshi

Direct conversion from MSHC to MSHI is not a typical file conversion process, as these files serve different purposes within the Microsoft Help system. Instead, the MSHI file is usually generated from the content and structure defined in the MSHC file during the help project compilation process.

To create an MSHI file from an MSHC file, you typically need to use a help authoring tool or the Microsoft Help Viewer SDK. The process involves compiling your help project, which includes the MSHC file, and the tool will generate the corresponding MSHI file automatically.

Recommended software for mshc to mshi conversion

• Microsoft Help Viewer SDK: The official SDK provides tools and documentation for compiling help projects and generating both MSHC and MSHI files.
• Helpware FAR: A popular third-party tool for managing and compiling Microsoft Help projects, including the creation of MSHI files from MSHC content.

To generate an MSHI file using Helpware FAR, follow these steps:

1. Open your help project in Helpware FAR.
2. Import or reference your MSHC file.
3. Navigate to Project → Compile or Build to start the compilation process.
4. The tool will generate the MSHI file along with other necessary files for Microsoft Help Viewer.

Summary

While you cannot directly convert an MSHC file to an MSHI file, you can use help authoring tools like Microsoft Help Viewer SDK or Helpware FAR to compile your help project and automatically generate the required MSHI index file from your MSHC content.