A help context map file is a plain text file, that contains pairs of topic IDs and help context numbers.
This map is used in compiled help files, to associate integer numbers (the so-called help context numbers) to alphanumeric topic IDs. It is a matter of application design whether you need them at all. Most Windows applications display context sensitive help through help context numbers. When you compile a help file, Help & Manual creates a couple of source files that are fed to the help compiler. Among the sources is a file with the extension ".hm" which contains the mapping for help context numbers. Since the temporary files are not longer needed after compilation, they get deleted and you probably never see them.
When a help context map file is needed...
| Situation 1 | The programmer of the application that you are writing help for, gives you a help context map file and asks you to assign the numbers in this file to the appropriate topics in your help project. You can do this manually - go from topic to topic and copy and paste the help context numbers into the HelpContext field of each topic. The help context tool assists you by importing the map file and assigning the numbers in one step.
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| Situation 2 | You have already assigned context numbers to your help topics and the programmers ask you for a list, so that they can prepare the application accordingly. The help context tool assists you by exporting a text file (a help context map file) with pairs of topic IDs and help context numbers.
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How does such a help context map file look like?
To give you an idea, below is an excerpt of the help context map of Help & Manuals help file. It's that simple.
| #define introduction 10
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| #define getfullversion 9900
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| #define whatsnew 999
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| #define howtoprintthishelpfile 208200
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| #define convertversion2 208190
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| #define jointhehelpcommunity 208440
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| #define theuserinterface 207870
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| #define treepanewindow 1
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| #define hmitemoptions 3
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| #define kbshortcutsgeneral 204220
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| #define optionsprogram 2010
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| #define workingwithhelpmanual_ 208030
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| #define starthere 207880
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| #define projectempty 2050
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| #define projectimporthlp 205340
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| #define projectimporthpj 2051
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| #define projectimportchm 207910
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| ...
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