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| Cause | Description | |-------|-------------| | | Windows 8, 10, and 11 do not include the legacy 32-bit WinHelp viewer. | | Incorrect file path | FORMS90_HELP_PATH or FORMS_PATH does not include the folder containing the .hlp file. | | Corrupted help file | The .hlp file is damaged or was compiled for a different platform. | | Registry restrictions | Windows blocks WinHelp execution by default due to security patches (KB917607). | | 64-bit vs 32-bit mismatch | Oracle Forms (32-bit) cannot launch a 64-bit help subsystem component. | | Network latency/timeout | When help files reside on a network drive, timeouts can trigger FRM-18105. |
SET_APPLICATION_PROPERTY(HELP_SYSTEM, ''); This disables all F1 help and no error will appear. frm18105 failed to start the help system fix
cd C:\Oracle\DEVSUIT\BIN winhlp32 forms.hlp If you get “This program cannot be run,” proceed to Fix #2. This is the most common fix for Windows 10/11 users. | Cause | Description | |-------|-------------| | |
echo %FORMS90_HELP_PATH% Your directory should appear. Even with the correct path, Forms sometimes fails because the help file’s extension is not associated with the viewer. This fix forces the association. | | Registry restrictions | Windows blocks WinHelp
(procmon) can also capture winhlp32.exe launch attempts. 12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q1: I’m on Windows 11. Will FRM-18105 ever be fixed permanently? A: Only by migrating to .chm help or using Oracle Forms 12c with HTML help. Microsoft will not restore WinHelp.
Last Updated: October 2024 Applies to: Oracle Forms 6i, 9i, 10g, 11g, 12c, Oracle Developer Suite