How to convert and view CHM files

Introduction

CHM is Microsoft Compiled Help format. These formats are designed for context help (usually activated by the F1 key) in applications. Format power allows to use of HTML content with images and CSS styling, also this format provides “table of contents” feature. To reduce the size of the final CHM file LZX is used.

CHM compiled file example

How to view CHM files

The CHM files can be opened with internal built-in tools of Microsoft Windows.

In case you need to view a CHM file in a browser or a standard image or PDF viewer application, you can convert it to HTML, JPEG, PNG  PDF format with GroupDocs.Viewer for .NET.

Convert CHM to HTML

To convert CHM files to HTML with GroupDocs.Viewer for .NET use following code:

using (Viewer viewer = new Viewer("sample.chm"))
{
         HtmlViewOptions options = HtmlViewOptions.ForEmbeddedResources("chm_result_{0}.html");
         options.RenderToSinglePage = true; // Enable it if you want to convert all CHM content to single page

         //viewer.View(options,1,2,3); // Convert only 1,2,3 pages
         viewer.View(options); // Convert all pages
}

The following screenshot shows the output HTML file opened in a browser.

CHM file converted in HTML

Convert CHM to JPG

To convert CHM files to JPG with GroupDocs.Viewer for .NET use following code:

using (Viewer viewer = new Viewer("sample.chm"))
{
       JpgViewOptions options = new JpgViewOptions("chm_result_{0}.jpg");

       //viewer.View(options,1,2,3); // Convert only 1,2,3 pages
       viewer.View(options); // Convert all pages
}

The following screenshot shows the output JPG file opened in a Windows Photo Viewer application.

CHM file converted in JPG

Convert CHM to PNG

To convert CHM/HPG files to PNG with GroupDocs.Viewer for .NET use following code:

using (Viewer viewer = new Viewer("sample.chm"))
{
       PngViewOptions options = new PngViewOptions("chm_result_{0}.png");

        //viewer.View(options,1,2,3); // Convert only 1,2,3 pages
       viewer.View(options); // Convert all pages
}

The following screenshot shows the output PNG file opened in a Windows Photo Viewer application.

CHM file converted in PNG

Convert CHM to PDF

To convert CHM files to PDF with GroupDocs.Viewer for .NET use following code:

using (Viewer viewer = new Viewer("sample.chm"))
{
       PdfViewOptions options = new PdfViewOptions("chm_result.pdf");

       viewer.View(options);
}

The following screenshot shows the output PDF file opened in a browser.

CHM file converted in PDF

More resources

GitHub Examples

You may easily run the code above and see the feature in action in our GitHub examples:

Free Online App

Along with full-featured .NET library we provide simple but powerful free Apps. You are welcome to view Word, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint documents with free to use online GroupDocs Viewer App.

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