Jun 2, 2025 Replies: 5 Hi all, I created a simple help system for my apps and have packaged it into a free class (DOHelp) and demo app. It lets you open a help dialog showing your content as standard HTML pages (local or hosted on a web server). The content is shown in a webview, with basic browser controls in its titlebar. The user can then browse your interlinked help pages. To use this class: Add the DOHelp class (DOHelp.bas) to your B4A project. Add the DOHelp.bal layout file to your Files folder. Tick these internal libraries in your project: - Archiver (to expand your zip file of HTML/CSS/JS files to a folder on the device) - WebViewExtras2 (to set up the webview properly) - XUI (to get a proper URI for the web pages) Prepare your help files in a folder. Zip them up (without their parent folder), then put that zip file in your Files folder. (This saves space and allows for subfolders.) In your app, create a DOHelp instance and call its Show method. - You can set the specific page to start on. - You can also set a light or dark theme if you wish (handled by your CSS). - It shows a dialog with basic browser controls and your specified help page. Included in this demo are a few sample web pages (interlinked), basic CSS, and a JavaScript file that handles switching between light and dark themes. Feedback much appreciated. Thanks! Updated to version 1.4 for Android 16. Attachments DOHelp14.zip DOHelp14.zip 13.4 KB · Views: 57 Last edited: Oct 17, 2026 Click to expand...
Hi all, I created a simple help system for my apps and have packaged it into a free class (DOHelp) and demo app. It lets you open a help dialog showing your content as standard HTML pages (local or hosted on a web server). The content is shown in a webview, with basic browser controls in its titlebar. The user can then browse your interlinked help pages. To use this class: Add the DOHelp class (DOHelp.bas) to your B4A project. Add the DOHelp.bal layout file to your Files folder. Tick these internal libraries in your project: - Archiver (to expand your zip file of HTML/CSS/JS files to a folder on the device) - WebViewExtras2 (to set up the webview properly) - XUI (to get a proper URI for the web pages) Prepare your help files in a folder. Zip them up (without their parent folder), then put that zip file in your Files folder. (This saves space and allows for subfolders.) In your app, create a DOHelp instance and call its Show method. - You can set the specific page to start on. - You can also set a light or dark theme if you wish (handled by your CSS). - It shows a dialog with basic browser controls and your specified help page. Included in this demo are a few sample web pages (interlinked), basic CSS, and a JavaScript file that handles switching between light and dark themes. Feedback much appreciated. Thanks! Updated to version 1.4 for Android 16.
Dave O Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jun 3, 2025 #2 I've updated this to version 1.1, adding another argument to the Initialize method to specify a home page. This lets you open a help window to any starting page in your help system, but still have the Home button go back to the root page.
I've updated this to version 1.1, adding another argument to the Initialize method to specify a home page. This lets you open a help window to any starting page in your help system, but still have the Home button go back to the root page.
Dave O Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jun 6, 2025 #3 Version 1.2 - added support for mailto links
Dave O Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jun 19, 2025 #5 Version 1.3 - deletes copied zip file once unzipped
Dave O Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Oct 17, 2026 #6 Version 1.4 - Now initializes to a root B4XView/panel for edge-to-edge compatibility in Android 16. - Tested in B4XPages and old-school activity-based apps.
Version 1.4 - Now initializes to a root B4XView/panel for edge-to-edge compatibility in Android 16. - Tested in B4XPages and old-school activity-based apps.
