HLP File Extension

What is the .HLP file type?

An abbreviation of 'Help,' the .hlp filename extension belongs to the Microsoft Windows Help (WinHelp) File (.hlp) file type and format. WinHelp is a proprietary format developed by Microsoft for built-in help files on Microsoft Windows. Since long a legacy, WinHelp has been replaced by the more advanced CHM (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help) format.

An .hlp file contains operating system or application reference topics compiled in a special binary format from RTF and BMP sources. On Microsoft Windows, .hlp files are handled by the WinHelp executable ("WinHlp32.exe"). The last Microsoft OS to natively support WinHelp is Windows XP, while all later OS'es (Windows 7, 8) cannot handle WinHelp out-of-the-box. To enable users to open .hlp files on such systems, Microsoft provides a standalone WinHelp installer.

There are third-party tools to convert WinHelp (.hlp) files into CHM or HTML as well as decompile them into RTF. HLP files can also be directly opened by several all-purpose document readers. Despite WinHelp's legacy status, .hlp files still occur in many older Microsoft Windows applications.

Apart from WinHelp, the .hlp extension is also generally used by different applications to denote generic help (.hlp) files. An .hlp file like that can be a plaintext file or a compiled binary, depending on the application that uses it. Still, older Windows application would most often default to WinHelp.

Software to open or convert HLP files

ЁEперасEионнасE сEисEсEема MicrosoftR WindowsR

 

Systeme d'exploitation Microsoft® Windows®

 

MicrosoftR WindowsR -kayttojarjestelma

 

Autodesk DWF Application

 

Microsoft Windows Operativsystem

 

Free File Viewer Pro

Download