.TOPIC:
Sample Help File:

These help files are for your own use, such as creating help files, catalogs and more.  They are accessed from the DiaLog main menu under <Help> as <MyHelp>.

The requirements for the format of these files are:

Each help topic must be preceded by the "TOPIC" line, (which starts with a period and ends with a colon) followed immediately with a short topic title line terminated with a colon.  To create sub-topic sections, indent the topic title line 1 or more spaces.  Do not use tabs.

Topic Title Lines MUST be unique, or the second occurrence of the same title cannot be reached.

After that enter the text of the topic.  Do not enter any linefeeds into your text unless you want to separate the text into paragraphs.  Use the DiaLog Editor in the word-wrap mode, or any editor of your choice.

Using the DiaLog Editor allows you to go back and forth between the editor and the main DiaLog panel to take a look at the help file as you are creating it.  Just remember to save the present changes in the Editor before you invoke the help system, or the help system will look at the old version.

The help file cannot be larger than 32,767 characters.

Each help file you create in this fashion must be named "MyName.hlp", where "Name" is the name of your choice, up to 6 characters.  The help file must reside in the DiaLog directory.
.TOPIC:
  Display SubTopics:

<SubTopics> / <No SubTopics> is a toggle control.  Pressing it will alternately display and not display the subtopics.  This comes in handy when there are many topics and subtopics.

Displaying only the main topics makes it easier to zero in on the desired topic.  Once the desired main topic is selected, select the subtopics again, and the main topic will move to the top of the topics display (unless you are at or near the end of the topics).
.TOPIC:
  Print:

You can print the text of the selected topic by pressing <Print> on the menu bar while the Help system is active.

While the subtopics are visible on the topics display, only the selected topic or subtopic will print.  If no subtopics are displayed, the main selected topic and its subtopics will print.
.TOPIC:
Another Topic:

Text of new topic.
.TOPIC:
    Sub Topic 1:

Text of sub topic 1.
.TOPIC:
    Sub Topic 2:

Text of sub topic 2.
