Each instance of System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider maintains a collection of references to controls associated with it. To associate a Help file with the System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider, set the HelpProvider.HelpNamespace property. You specify the type of Help provided by calling the HelpProvider.SetHelpNavigator(Control, HelpNavigator) method and providing a System.Windows.Forms.HelpNavigator value for the specified control. You provide the keyword or topic for the Help by calling the HelpProvider.SetHelpKeyword(Control, string) method. To open Help to a specific topic, the keyword should be passed in the form topicName.htm.

To associate a specific Help string with a control, use the HelpProvider.SetHelpString(Control, string) method. The string that you associate with a control using this method is displayed in a pop-up window when the user presses the F1 key while the control has focus.

If the HelpProvider.HelpNamespace property has not been set, you must use the HelpProvider.SetHelpString(Control, string) method to provide the Help text. If you have set both HelpProvider.HelpNamespace and the Help string, Help based on the HelpProvider.HelpNamespace will take precedence.

System.Windows.Forms.HelpProvider calls methods on the System.Windows.Forms.Help class to provide Help functionality.