Create help text for a button or command

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Create a custom ToolTip (ScreenTip) for a toolbar button

ToolTips appear when the mouse pointer rests on a button or combo box on a toolbar.

1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Customize.
2. If the toolbar isn't already shown within the program window, click the Toolbars tab, and then double-click the toolbar name you want to show.
3. With the Customize dialog box open, right-click the toolbar button you want to create a tip for, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
4. In the ScreenTip property box, type the tip that you want to display.

Notes

• If you don't specify a custom ToolTip, Microsoft Access by default displays the text specified in the Caption property.
• If the ToolTip doesn't appear when the mouse pointer rests over the button or combo box, verify that you have selected the Show ScreenTips on Toolbars box on the Options tab of the Customize dialog box.

Create "What's This" tips for toolbar buttons or menu commands

"What's This" tips appear when you click What's This? on the Help menu or press SHIFT+F1, and then click a toolbar button or menu command.

Create the tip

1. Create the source file using the text editor or word-processing program of your choice. Make sure to save the source file in Rich Text Format. For information on creating the source file, see the Help that comes with the Windows Help Compiler.
2. Compile the Help file using the Windows Help Compiler.

   Note   For best results, put the Help file in the same folder as your application. That way, each site using your application can use the same setting for the HelpFile property, but install the application in the folder of their choice. If you omit a path setting in this property, Microsoft Access looks for the Help file in the folder where your application is installed.

Assign the tip to a toolbar button or menu command

1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Customize.
2. If the toolbar isn't already shown within the program window, click the Toolbars tab, and then double-click the toolbar name you want to show.
3. With the Customize dialog box open, right-click the toolbar button or menu command you want to assign a tip to, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
4. In the HelpFile property box, specify the path and file name for the compiled Help file.
5. In the HelpContextID property box, type the number of the topic (other than 0).

Notes   

• You must map the values set for the HelpContextID property to the context strings in your Help system. For more information, see the Help file that comes with the Microsoft Windows Help Compiler.
• The Windows Help Compiler is included with Microsoft Office XP Developer, Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, Microsoft Visual C++, and the Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK). You can also order a Help Authoring Kit from Microsoft.
• You can't display custom "What's This" tips through the Office Assistant.