>>>>>I can't compile the help system (with HTML Help Workshop), until I either close VFP, or SET HELP OFF. I get an error message, stating that the help compiler can't open the CHM file.
>>>>>
>>>>>This is strange, for when my SET HELP doesn't involve the help file I want to compile:
>>>>>
>>>>>

>>>>>set("help") = "OFF"
>>>>>set("help", 1) = (the standard VFP help file, ...foxhelp.chm)
>>>>>

>>>>>
>>>>>Since this only happens after I had opened the compiled CHM file in VFP, it seems obvious that the file is somehow in use, despite the fact that on shutdown, the main program sets help back to the standard VFP help.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>>When does ON SHUTDOWN fire?
>>>
>>>The problem I mention is after quitting my application, and returning to the VFP command window. The problem only appears if at some moment I did open the compiled help file.
>>>
>>>So, there is no active ON SHUTDOWN.
>>>
>>>I can circumvent the problem by issuing SET HELP OFF, but I still find this weird.
>>
>>If you are running your application in the development environment and then quiting to the command window, ON SHUTDOWN is not firing to release the help file. ON SHUTDOWN does not fire until you EXIT foxpro. Try putting a messagebox or something in the ON SHUTDOWN routine so you can see when it fires.
>
>I don't see the relation.
>
>My application does have an ON SHUTDOWN, which fires when I press Alt-F4 (or give the File | Quit command).
>
>The cleanup procedure sets the the help file back to standard VFP help, and I verified this with set("help", 1).

My previous message was based on the understanding that your reset of the help file happens in the ON SHUTDOWN routine. Is this true? If not, you can disregard everything I said. I've had a problem with errors when I reset to foxhelp on File|Quit because I don't distribute foxhelp with my apps. So I use

if _vfp.StartMode = 0
   set sysmenu to default
   set help to
endif