HXT File – What is .hxt file and how to open it?
HXT File Extension
Microsoft Help 2 Table of Contents File – file format by Microsoft
HXT file extension is used for Microsoft Help 2 Table of Contents File developed by Microsoft. It is a file format that stores the table of contents for a Microsoft Help 2 file (.HLP). It contains a list of topics and their corresponding page numbers.
File Format and Purpose
HXT files, short for Microsoft Help 2 Table of Contents File, are integral components of Microsoft’s Help 2 system, a legacy help system used in older versions of Windows and other Microsoft applications. These files act as the table of contents for help files, providing a structured outline of the available help topics. HXT files enable users to navigate help content efficiently, allowing them to quickly locate the information they need.
HXT files are text-based and use a hierarchical structure to organize help topics. The file format employs a proprietary syntax defined by Microsoft, which includes tags and attributes used to specify the organization and content of the help table of contents. HXT files are typically stored alongside the corresponding help files, which contain the actual help content, such as text, images, and interactive elements. By providing a structured overview of the help content, HXT files enhance the usability and accessibility of Microsoft’s Help 2 system.
Microsoft Help 2 Table of Contents File (.HXT)
HXT files are proprietary binary files that contain the table of contents for Microsoft Help 2, a help file format developed by Microsoft. They are primarily used to organize and display the hierarchical structure of help content within Help 2 viewer applications. HXT files provide a way to navigate and search through help content efficiently, allowing users to access specific sections of the documentation based on their needs.
Opening HXT Files
HXT files cannot be opened or viewed directly by most users. They are typically loaded and rendered within Help 2 viewer applications, such as the Microsoft Help Viewer or the Windows Help system, which are designed to interpret the HXT file structure and present the corresponding help content. Third-party tools and libraries may also be available for accessing or converting HXT files into alternative formats for analysis or archival purposes. It’s important to note that the availability of such tools may vary depending on the specific operating system and application requirements.
File Structure and Purpose
HXT files are structured as plain text files that adhere to a specific syntax defined by Microsoft. They serve as table of contents (TOC) files for Microsoft Help (*.HLP) files, which are often found in older Windows operating systems. HXT files provide users with a hierarchical representation of the help content, allowing for easy navigation and quick access to specific topics within the help system. The file extension “.HXT” signifies its role as a TOC file associated with Microsoft Help.
Compatibility and Usage
HXT files are primarily associated with Microsoft Help versions 1.x to 3.x, which were widely used in the 1990s and early 2000s. They are not compatible with later versions of Microsoft Help or other help systems. HXT files are commonly found in Windows installation directories or in the directories of specific software applications that utilize Microsoft Help for documentation purposes. To view the content of an HXT file, users must open the corresponding HLP file using Microsoft Help Viewer or another compatible program that supports HXT files.