MySQL Bugs: #13973: MySQL.chm (help file for Windows) still corrupt

Bug #13973	MySQL.chm (help file for Windows) still corrupt
Submitted:	12 Oct 2005 18:56	Modified:	13 Oct 2005 18:58
Reporter:	Darrell Icenogle	Email Updates:
Status:	Not a Bug	Impact on me:	None
Category:	MySQL Server: Documentation	Severity:	S3 (Non-critical)
Version:	4.1.14	OS:	Windows (Windows XP)
Assigned to:		CPU Architecture:	Any

Description:
Bug #12998 Noted that the winzip archive, the manual.chm (help) file is broken.  The response was that the file was somehow corrupted, and to obtain one from the website.

I used the installer, and also found the file was corrupt.  I went to the website mentioned by Lenz Grimmer:  

http://dev.mysql.com/get/Downloads/Manual/manual.chm/from/pick

I tried two different mirrors, and both gave me a file that WILL OPEN, but WON'T DISPLAY in the help viewer.  The table of contents displays in the left panel, as does the index, but selecting any topic results in an error in the right panel, i.e., "The page cannot be displayed."

How to repeat:
- Download the manual.chm file from 

http://dev.mysql.com/get/Downloads/Manual/manual.chm/from/pick

- Double click on the file to open it on a Windows XP system with current updates.

Can you try this URL?

http://downloads.mysql.com/docs/refman-4.1-en.chm

(Referenced from http://dev.mysql.com/doc/)

I was given a new file to try...  Same result.  It opens, but only the index and TOC display.

I thought perhaps I was simply having a problem with .chm files, so I did a search of my machine for others, and I found a large number of them.  The rest seem to work without difficulty.

The other clue is that when I try to open the refman file I get the kind of warning that one gets when, say, opening an attachment in Outlook:  "Do you want to open this file?"  It has the warning about files from the internet that can potentially harm your computer.  It knows that the file type is "Compiled HTML Help file."

Very puzzling.  I have never seen this warning on a file I'm opening from a Windows file browser.

I've just downloaded the file from the URL provided by Paul DuBois (http://downloads.mysql.com/docs/refman-4.1-en.chm). 

It gave a warning about opening executable upon open, but it just works OK for me on XP. I'll post a screenshot, if you want (russian XP used, sorry)

4.1 manual in .CHM format opened, and not only content...

Attachment: 4_1chm.png (image/png, text), 27.26 KiB.

...and it is Documentation problem, if any, really.

I was able to repeat this on a Windows XP box. However, the
problem is not with the CHM file itself. Some research
into the problem suggests that the cause may be a Windows
security update.  Please see this KnowedgeBase article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;896358

The article suggests some fairly intrusive strategies for dealing with
the issue, such as modifying the registry.  However, some other
possibilities for solving the problem are:

- Don't download the CHM file with Internet Explorer. For example,
try downloading it with Firefox instead.
- Download the CHM file on another non-Windows machine, and transfer
it to the Windows machine.
- If you download the CHM on Windows with Internet Explorer, right
click on the downloaded file and select Properties.  Then select the General
tab and click the Unblock button to tell Windows to "trust" the file.

I have successfully used each of these techniques.  Darrell, can you try any
or all of them and report your results? Thanks.

Note: The CHM should not be downloaded to a network drive.

That was the answer.  I downloaded the file with Firefox and it works just fine.  Windows security needs to be more transparent, on this one.

Thank you for the update.

Calling this "not a bug" may not be appropriate.  Note that anyone using Windows XP with current updates who downloads and installs MySQL -- from an .msi installer, no less -- will be unable to read their documentation.  I have this silly hunch that other .chm files in other .msi installations actually work, and that fixing the problem with your doc remains on your plate.

Sorry I did not undertand well what you said, I was able to verify on
my XP too, I just tought was your browser issue.

No, if you look at this string from the beginning, you'll see the problem started with the .chm file installed from the .msi installer.  Then I was given a URL to another copy.  I was able to fetch that file and make it work with Mozilla.

I just installed on another Windows XP machine and found that the help file invoked from the newly-created menu pick produces an error.

I'll leave you alone, now...  (;^)

The corrupt CHM file in the .msi distribution that you installed
actually was corrupt.  That's a diffferent than the one of MSIE
blocking content of known-good CHM files.

The easiest way to unlock the file on Windows XP is by right clicking and selecting "Properties" as described earlier. In the "General" tab of the properties window look for "Security" near the bottom and just press the "Unlock" button.