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WebSiteZip Packer Tutorial: Creating CHM Files From HTML Pages

Compiled HTML Help (CHM) files are perfect for offline documentation, e-books, and user manuals. WebSiteZip Packer is a lightweight tool that quickly converts entire HTML websites into a single, searchable CHM file.

This guide will take you through the complete process of compiling your HTML pages into a professional CHM help file. Step 1: Prepare Your Source Files

Before opening the software, organize your website files on your local drive.

Create a single root folder: Put all project files inside one main folder.

Organize assets: Keep images, CSS stylesheets, and JavaScript files in clearly named subfolders.

Fix your links: Ensure all hyperlinks use relative paths (e.g., about.html) rather than absolute paths (e.g., C:/users/desktop/about.html).

Set an entry point: Name your main landing page index.html or default.html. Step 2: Set Up the Project in WebSiteZip Packer

Launch WebSiteZip Packer to begin configuring your new compilation project.

Select the source: Click the browse button next to the Input Directory field and select your root HTML folder.

Choose the default page: Select your primary index file to serve as the opening page when a user launches the CHM.

Set the destination: Choose an Output Directory and name your final .chm file.

Title your window: Enter a project title. This text will appear in the title bar of the finished CHM viewer. Step 3: Configure Table of Contents and Index A user-friendly CHM file requires structured navigation.

Generate the Table of Contents (TOC): Enable the automatic TOC generation feature to let the software build a navigation tree based on your folder structure.

Refine the structure: Use the built-in TOC editor to manually rename chapters, reorder pages, and group related topics.

Add Index Keywords: Define searchable keywords for critical pages to help users find specific troubleshooting steps or terms instantly. Step 4: Compile and Test Your CHM File

With the settings finalized, you are ready to build the compressed file.

Run the compiler: Click the Pack or Compile button to start the compression process.

Review the log: Check the output log for any missing images or broken file paths.

Test the output: Open the generated CHM file to verify that the navigation tree works, images display correctly, and the built-in search functions as expected. If you want to refine your document, let me know:

Do you need help troubleshooting broken images in CHM files? Should we add a section on integrating a search bar? Tell me how you would like to expand this guide!