Missing Links in Help Reference (Access2000 / VBA)

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G’Day All,

The links at the top of the Visual Basic Help reference no longer appear (ie “See Also”, “Example”, “Applies To” etc) when viewing a help topic.
The same topics can be viewed with Visual Basic 5 no problems, but when viewed thru Access’ VBA window, no links.

I use help a lot, and really don’t know how to correct this problem.
If there are any suggeations, I’d be really greatful.

Thanks

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I am having the same problem with VBA help in Excel, Word and Outlook 2000… My employer upgraded everything to 2000 other than Access…. The Help is fine for Access 97, but nothing else… Our desktop support was useless at fixing this for me (as usual… )…

Wish I could help… but I’ll be watching for an answer…
I hope someone knows the solution!

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VB5 uses the old help while VB6/Access 2000 use HTML help. It isn’t just an interface issue, the entire help file is a different format. If you no longer see active links for Example, See Also, etc., it may be that those links are not available in the Access 2000 help for that topic. HTML help is harder to navigate and find answers in, although it isn’t quite so bad once you get used to it. This isn’t peculiar to Access, unfortunately. Office 2000 and Office 2002 use HTML help exclusively. Unfortunately, some topics seem to have disappeared forever, even though the code from 97/VB5 help still works.

Your best bet with HTML help is to use the answer wizard, although getting the question right can be a frustrating exercise. It usually helps to try framing your question as a “how do I” question, and be prepared to see a lot of topics that aren’t even remotely what you were looking for.

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Hi Charlotte,

Thanks for your response. I always did like to ’97 help better than the 2000, but using the help isn’t the problem. If I view a particular help topic thru VB5 (eg. Help Topic on the Connection Method), then at the top I see the links referring to “See Also”, “Example” etc. But if I view exactly the same help topic from Access’ Visual Basic window, all that displays are small inert squares where the links should be.

Now that you mentioned VB6/Access2000 use HTML help, the squares look very much like a place holder on a web page where the file/graphic is missing.

Is there anyway to re-link or adjust the pointers for the help windows?

Thanks

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You aren’t looking at the same help in VB5 and VB6/Access2000, so don’t confuse yourself. It does sound, though, as if some of your help files didn’t get properly installed. You might want to do a reinstall of Office 2000 and make sure the VBA help is included and that all help files are installed to run from the computer rather than install on first run.

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I hadn’t realised they were separate help files even though I was looking at exactly the same topics. A number of things have just fallen into place for me with this problem all thanks to you Charlotte. Your advice about the help (Access2000/VB6) being HTML based has been vital.

The solution was actually brought to light from the latest edition of Woody’s Windows XP Watch, and the dreaded cumulative update for IE6 (818529). I hadn’t connected the problems I was having with help with some issues I was having with my Internet Connection (yeah I know HTML… I’m so dim).

Anyway, just uninstalled the update, and everything works fine.

Thank you so much for all your help.

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I’m glad you got it resolved.

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