 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
| Filename extension |
.hlp |
|---|---|
| Internet media type | application/winhlp |
| Magic number | 3F 5F 03 00[1] |
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Initial release | 1990 |
| Extended from | RTF |
| Standard | No |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 |
| Included with | Windows 3.0, Windows 95, Windows XP |
| Successor | Microsoft Compiled HTML Help |
| Type | Help system |
Microsoft WinHelp is a proprietary format for online help files that can be displayed by the Microsoft Help browser winhelp.exe or winhlp32.exe. The file format is based on Rich Text Format (RTF). It remained a popular Help platform from Windows 3.0 through Windows XP. WinHelp was removed in Windows Vista purportedly to discourage software developers from using the obsolete format and encourage use of newer help formats. Support for WinHelp files would eventually be removed entirely in Windows 10.
- ^ "HLP File Format". October 2009.