Why does my application close when I close the help file?

Question

3.00/5 (2 votes)

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I have an application I created in C# .NET CORE 7. When I run the application in debug mode or release mode I get the same results,
If I open a .chm help file from the application and close the help file, the application also terminates.
Here is the code I use to call the help file from a button in the application,

C#

//This is in a Code File Called Standard
public static readonly string HlpPath = FilesHelper.FindingFileName(Application.StartupPath, "\\Help\\MyApplication Help.chm");

C#

//This is from the button in the application.
private void BtnHelp_ItemClick(object sender, ItemClickEventArgs e)
            {
            try
                {
                Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor;

                Help.ShowHelp(this, Standard.HlpPath, HelpNavigator.Topic, "Introduction.html");

                Cursor = Cursors.Default;
                }
            catch (Exception ex)
                {
                Cursor = Cursors.Default;
                MessageBox.Show($"Help Error Message - {ex.Message}", "Error Opening Help File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                }
            }

When I run the application the help file opens as expected. When I close the help file, it also terminates the application. This doesn't happen in .NET Framework version of the program.
Any help would be appreciated

What I have tried:

C#

//This is in a Code File Called Standard
public static readonly string HlpPath = FilesHelper.FindingFileName(Application.StartupPath, "\\Help\\MyApplication Help.chm");

C#

//This is from the button in the application.
private void BtnHelp_ItemClick(object sender, ItemClickEventArgs e)
            {
            try
                {
                Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor;

                Help.ShowHelp(this, Standard.HlpPath, HelpNavigator.Topic, "Introduction.html");

                Cursor = Cursors.Default;
                }
            catch (Exception ex)
                {
                Cursor = Cursors.Default;
                MessageBox.Show($"Help Error Message - {ex.Message}", "Error Opening Help File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                }
            }

Posted 23-Jun-23 16:49pm

crmfghtr

Updated 26-Jun-23 4:33am

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2 solutions

Solution 3

Hi,
I tried your solution, it appears there is something else going on with the application. I'm getting a stack overflow error. with

C#

Debugger.Break();

I added to the call the help file. When I try to add or change a control in the development environment Visual Studio stops responding. So it appears there is something else going on in the application which is causing the problem. I need to investigate this. Thank You for your help.

Posted 26-Jun-23 4:33am

crmfghtr

Comments

Graeme_Grant 26-Jun-23 10:52am

You should comment on my solution post, not post another solution.

Here is a link to my test: WinFormsHelpChm.zip - Google Drive[^]. Ignore the not found in the help file, it is not important. the sample chm came from here: SubMain / GhostDoc Download Sample CHM[^].

As you will see, there is no issues with my test project. When you hit the breakpoint, continue before closing the Help file. Comment out the breakpoint to see it work fully.

crmfghtr 26-Jun-23 10:57am

Thank You for your help, It appears there is something else going on with the application. Visual Studio freezes when you try to add or edit a control. I also tried adding a helpprovider control from the toolbox and it does not allow me to add any controls. I need to investigate what is going on. Oddly enough there are NO errors in the .Net Framework (4.8) version of the program.

Graeme_Grant 26-Jun-23 10:59am

I am using the latest version of VS 2022 CE. My project should run for you.

crmfghtr 26-Jun-23 11:01am

Yes, so am I I believe it is 17.6.4 I am also using third party controls (DevExpress) in the application.

Graeme_Grant 26-Jun-23 11:08am

That could be your problem.

BillWoodruff 26-Jun-23 15:30pm

There is nothing wrong about an OP posting their own solution.

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Graeme_Grant · Accepted Answer · 2023-06-23T20:27:00

It sounds like an unhandled exception. Try capturing the unhanded exception

C#

try
{
    // set and show
    var mainForm= new MainForm();
    Application.Run(mainForm);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Unhandled Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Stop);
}

UPDATE

I don't work with .chm help files and yesterday I did not fire up a test project as I was heading out the door. What I did post was "good proactice" handling of exceptions that are not normally caught. There is also a general thread exception that you should also catch if doing any multithreading programming.

This morning a downloaded a test .chm file and wrote a bit of DotNet (Core) 7.0 code to test how the ShowHelp. Here is the sample code used:

C#

public partial class Form1 : Form
{
    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        string helpPath = Path.Combine(Environment.CurrentDirectory, "PowerCollections.chm");
        string helpTopic = "Algorithms";
        Help.ShowHelp(this, helpPath , helpTopic);

        Debugger.Break();
    }
}

The code does not stop when the ShowHelp method is called. The Debugger.Break(); is hit immediately after the help file is shown. Continue running the code and close the help file and the WinForm app is still running. The app itself does not close when the help file is closed.