Calling Help with keyword crashes PB app in Citrix

[Former Member]

We currently run our PB 12.5 generated application on Citrix. The application crashes (sporadically 7 of 10 times) when ShowHelp function is called with Keyword! passed. The help file (.CHM WebHelp) was generated using Mad Cap Flare version 6. The application works with no issues when NOT running in CITRIX environment. We are running Citrix Xenapp version 6.5.

Before dismissing this issue off as Citrix issue, please note that the following have been tried - An application created in C# calling the same .CHM (help) file with the same keyword works on Citrix without any issues. An older version of our .CHM file generated using Robo Help on Citrix worked fine without any issues. We do not have the luxury to go back to Robo Help.

It only seems to be a combination of CITRIX, PB app AND Mad Cap .CHM file combinations that fail. Since, the Mad Cap generated .CHM works fine on Citrix using C# app, Mad Cap seems to think its a PowerBuilder issue.

When the application crashes there are different OS .DLL's referenced. i.e. JSCRIPT9.DLL, MSWSOCK.DLL, WSHIP6.DLL and others. No pattern or which one will show up.

Before making an $800 call to Citrix and hear the same thing (PowerBuilder issue not ours), would like to know what PB experts think of this issue and if they have any insight?

Or if there is way to call the .CHM file other than ShowHelp?

Thank you all in advance.

[Former Member]

Hi Sai;

   If Bruce's suggestion does not work (its a good suggestion BTW) - then I would look at launching the help file through the MS-Windows Shell instead. The problem with PB's ShowHelp or using the API is that the help is considered a "sub-task" of the PB Application's main task. If a Sub-Task abends it can take down the main task - thus your PB application basically gets blamed for the sub-tasks indiscretion (sort of like you & your kids <bg>).

  If you "shell out" to get the CHM file launched, that would be under another independent process - thus, it would be its own main task. If the Help crashed at that point, it would then not penalize the PB application as that would be a separate and independent task on its own relative to the Help thread.

Just another thought / suggestion on your Citrix issue,

Good luck!

Regards ... Chris

[former_member190719]

You might try calling the HtmlHelp API directly to display the help and see if that solves the issue:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa164218(v=office.10).aspx