Microsoft KB Archive/216914

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PRB: Help Compiler Error "Cannot find or run HCRTF.exe"

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Q216914

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK)

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SYMPTOMS
When attempting to compile a help project through Visual C++, the command line, or the Microsoft Help Workshop, the following error appears:

Cannot find or run HCRTF.EXE.

CAUSE
The files HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll may be missing from the Help Workshop directory. These files could also be corrupted.

Another cause of this problem results from the location where the Help Workshop is installed. In this case, the error may occur even when HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll are correctly installed. The problem happens when the Help Workshop folder is similar in structure to other surrounding directories. For example, consider a situation where the Help Workshop is installed to "C:\Program Files\Help Workshop". The problem could occur if there is also a "C:\Program" directory on the computer.

RESOLUTION
To verify that HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll are correctly installed, follow these steps:


 * 1) Find the folder where HCW.exe is located.
 * 2) Open this folder in explorer.
 * 3) Verify that HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll files are present.

If these files are not present, reinstall the Microsoft Help Workshop to the same location. See the "References" section to find the download location of the latest Microsoft Help Workshop.

Sometimes the files are correctly installed, but the error occurs anyway. The following steps address this situation:


 * 1) Find the folder where HCW.exe is located.
 * 2) Copy the HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll files.
 * 3) Paste the HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll files into the windows folder.
 * 4) Delete the HCRTF.exe and HWDLL.dll files from all other locations on the drive.