For Win32 application, you can use API function ShellExecute to launch a CHM file.

Example(delphi):

uses SHELLAPI; ShellExecute(Application.Handle,'open', PChar('hh.exe'),PChar('filename.chm::/TopicFileName.htm'), nil, SW_SHOW);

Example(VB):

Private Declare Function ShellExecute _ Lib "shell32.dll" _ Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _ ByVal hwnd As Long, _ ByVal lpOperation As String, _ ByVal lpFile As String, _ ByVal lpParameters As String, _ ByVal lpDirectory As String, _ ByVal nShowCmd As Long) _ As Long Private Sub Command1_Click() ShellExecute 0, "open", "hh.exe", App.Path + "\filename.chm::/TopicFileName.htm", "", 1 End Sub

For .NET application, you can use Help.ShowHelp to launch a CHM file.

Example(C#):

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) { Help.ShowHelp(this, "filename.chm", HelpNavigator.Topic, "TopicFileName.htm"); }