Installing Context-Sensitive Help for Delphi 3.x

You can merge the help file for the TRPCBroker component into the Delphi help system. Then, when you are working with the TRPCBroker component in Delphi, you can press F1 and get context-sensitive help for it and for any of its properties.

To install this help file in Delphi 3.x:

1. Delphi 3.x should already be installed on your programmer workstation.
   
   
2. Exit Delphi if is running.
   
   
3. Copy the BROKER.HLP, BROKER.CNT, BROKERSM.HLP and BROKERSM.CNT files (i.e., located in the …\BDK32\DOC directory) into the …\Delphi 3\HELP directory.
   
   
4. Using a text editor, open the DELPHI3.CFG file in the …\Delphi 3\HELP directory. In the "Third-Party Help" section of DELPHI3.CFG, add the following statement:

   :LINK BROKER.HLP

   Save DELPHI3.CFG.

5. Delete the hidden file DELPHI3.GID in the …\Delphi 3\HELP directory.
   • From Windows Explorer: If you have the option turned on to view hidden files, you can select this file and then delete it.
     
     
   • From the command line: Use ATTRIB to change the file attribute to not hidden, then delete the file:
     
     C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi 3\HELP>attrib -h delphi3.gid

C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi 3\HELP>del delphi3.gid
6. To access BROKER.HLP's table of contents or index, do the following:
   1. Close any open help files.
   2. Using a text editor, open the DELPHI3.CNT file in the ...\DELPHI 3\HELP directory.
   3. In DELPHI3.CNT's Index section (top of the file), add the following line: :Index RPC Broker Developer's Guide =broker.hlp
   4. In DELPHI3.CNT's Include section (bottom of the file), add the following line: :Include broker.cnt
   5. Save your changes to DELPHI3.CNT and close the file.
7. Start Delphi. On a blank form, add the TRPCBroker component from the component palette to your form. Select the TRPCBroker component on your form and press F1 for help. If the help for the TRPCBroker component comes up, you are all set.

   If you press the HELP TOPICS button, you should see the Broker manual listed as one of the Delphi manuals (see Step 6). Also, broker topics will be available in the index and full text search tabs as well.