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**HELP(**[//helpfile//] [,help//-id//]**)**

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| **HELP** | Opens a help file and activates a help window. |
| //helpfile// | A string constant or the label of a STRING variable that has the DOS directory file specification for the help file. If the file specification does not contain a complete path and filename, the help file is assumed to be in the current directory. If the file extension is omitted, ".HLP" is assumed. If the //helpfile// parameter is omitted, a comma is required to hold its position. |
| //help-id// | A string constant or the label of a STRING variable that contains the help topic to access. This may be either a help keyword or a "context string." |

The **HELP** statement designates the active //help file. //If the second parameter (help-id) is provided, the Help file is opened to the help topic//-id//.

The helpfile parameter can name either a WinHelp (.HLP) or HTML Help (.CHM) file.

While an ASK or ACCEPT is controlling program execution, the active help window is displayed when the user presses F1 (the "Help" key).

If the //help-id// parameter is omitted, the //helpfile// is nominated but not opened. If the //helpfile// parameter is provided, the current help file is opened, and the window identified by //help-id// is activated. If both parameters are omitted, the current //helpfile// is opened at the current topic.

The //help-id// may contain a Help keyword. This is a keyword that is displayed in the Help Search dialog. When the user presses F1, if only one topic in the help file specifies this keyword, the help file is opened at that topic; if more than one topic specifies the keyword, the search dialog is opened for the user.

A "context string" is identified by a leading tilde (~) in the //help-id//, followed by a unique identifier associated with exactly one help topic. If the tilde is missing, the //help-id// is assumed to be a help keyword. When the user presses F1, the help file is opened at the specific topic associated with that "context string."

Newly started threads inherit the help file settings from the previous thread that started it.

**Example:**

**HELP('C:\HLPDIR\LEDGER.HLP')  !Open the gen ledger WinHelp format help file**

**HELP('C:\HLPDIR\LEDGER.CHM')  !Open the gen ledger HTML format help file**

**HELP(,'~CustUpd')             !Activate customer update help window**

**HELP                          !Display the help window**

**See Also:**

[[ask  get one keystroke .htm|ASK]]

[[accept  the event processor .htm|ACCEPT]]

[[hlp  set on line help identifier .htm|HLP]]