Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition Documenation Failure

David Borland

I finally got around an installed Visual Studio 2005 standard edition that I received at the Ready to Launch event in November 2005. But when I try to bring up the documentation I'm getting error message of "this program cannot display the webpage". The contents column has the list of items, but I get the same message no matter what I click on. For example when I click on "What's new in Visual Basic language" it tries to bring up ms-help://MS.VSCC.v80/MS.MSDN.v80/MS.VisualStudio.v80.en/dv_vbalr/html/b6ab317a-4257-4dae-a857-f4363d31a6d2.htm but can't.

Any idea on how to fix this Is there a patch I need to download. Thanks. David Borland

Mark Benningfield

Hello All.

David Borland:

It sounds like you haven't installed the local MSDN Library documentation. If the Standard Edition you received was the normal retail version, it should have come with 3 MSDN documentation CD's.

If it isn't and it didn't, then you can choose to use the online MSDN library, by going to Tools -> Options in the IDE menu, and expanding the Help node under the top-level Environment node.

Select "Online", and in the "When loading Help content" groupbox, select "Try online first, then local."

HTH.

David Borland

Mark,

That was how it was setup. I tried changing it to the other options also, but I get is the same error message. Is there anyway to reset or repair it

Before I entered the original forum question, I reinstalled Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition (2 CDs), and MSDN library (1 disk). Reinstalling did not fix the issue.

Thanks.

Mark Benningfield

Hello All.

David:

Well, again, unless the single disk you speak of for the MSDN Library is a DVD, then the documentation package is likely incomplete.

When you say that "that is the way it was setup," do you mean for local help, or online If for online, and you're getting the standard DNS Server error, then you might verify your internet connection.

Also, what OS and IE versions are you running

Two other things to check: see if switching between the Integrated Help Viewer and the External Help Viewer has any effect (Tools -> Options -> Help, General, Show Help using... ), and see if the Dynamic Help section works or not (Help -> Dynamic Help).

Dynamic Help is context-sensitive help for Visual Studio itself, based on the context of the IDE.

HTH.

David Borland

Mark,

The Ready To Launch Package came with 4 CDs. 2 for Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition, 1 for SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition (that I did not load) and 1 for msdn library.

It was setup as "Try online first, then local". All my other connections to the Internet are working.

The OS is Windows XP with all the latest patches (5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600) . IE version is 7.0.5730.11. Internet Document Explorer version is 8.0.50727.42 RTM)

I tried to switch to the External Help View, but under Show Help using it is greyed out with External Help Viewer chosen.

To test the dynamic help I created a VB project, opened up a forms properties, clicked on a property and clicked the F1 button. The help screen was displayed properly. For example clicking on enabled displayed: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.control.enabled.aspx

But clicking on "What's New in the Visual Basic Language" tries to display ms-help://MS.VSCC.v80/MS.MSDN.v80/MS.VisualStudio.v80.en/dv_vbalr/html/b6ab317a-4257-4dae-a857-f4363d31a6d2.htm which causes the message "This program cannot display the webpage"

Thanks.

Mark Benningfield

Hello All.

David:

Yes, I think the problem is that the local MSDN documentation is not complete. The second link is a local help link for the MS Document Explorer, and the first link is an actual web link to the online MSDN library. The External Help viewer is the standalone MS Document Explorer, and it is disabled.

What you might try is downloading the MSDN library package that comes with the Express Editions of Visual Studio. It's not as complete as the full, 3-CD version that comes with the retail version of Standard Edition, but if it works better than what you have now, the problem is verified, and it's a lot better than nothing at all.

You could also try downloading the .NET Framework 2.0 SDK, which also comes with documentation.

Try one or both of those approaches and let us know what progress you make, if any.

HTH.

David Borland

Mark,

Looks like there isn't one combined Visual Studio Express Download. I'm thinking of downloading the 90 day trial on the Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition. When it expires I can see if the documentation still works and then can reinstall the Standard Edition. What do you think

Mark Benningfield

Hello All.

David:

Well, I would investigate the licensing issues very carefully. Offhand, I would think that the MSDN Library edition that came with the 90-day trial would also be governed by the terms of use that apply to the trial.

Unlike the Express editions and the .NET Framework SDK, which are free-use but restricted as to component redistribution, a trial edition is limited-use as well.

Since the Express editions and Standard edition can be installed side-by-side, I suggest that you download the Express edition and install it. It may be that the Express edition will meet your needs, as far as development is concerned.

I gather that you received the Standard edition gratis as part of the Ready to Launch event. As my uncle used to say, "Free is not always the best price." The simplest solution, and my recommendation, is to go ahead and buy the retail version of Standard Edition. That way, if a development problem arises (or rather, when), you won't have to worry if the problem is a cobbled-together environment that doesn't quite know its left hand from its right hand. And, you won't have to worry about violating any licensing terms, a major consideration.

HTH.