Mini Review: Microolap's CHM eBook Reader

[Brad Isaac]

I don't know what it is about my research, but I find that the technology involved to create whitepapers seems to always be changing. For awhile it was simply word docs, then came HTML formatted, then Acrobat. Now it seems every white paper I need to read for my job is in .CHM format. Yes the Microsoft Help format has invaded my paperwork . As you might imagine, the first thing I thought about was how I could read them on my Pocket PC.
At first, this was no easy task. I read about some other people who downloaded Microsoft HTML Help Workshop and uncompiling the CHM files, then zipping them up into a nice Zip folder. Copy the Zip to your device and then you can open it with Gowerpoint's µBook reader. Well, I tried this with a few of the .CHM files that were taunting me with their "non-Pocket PC Compatability". I must say I was disappointed with the results. The .CHM files ended up sort of scrambled and difficult (impossible?) to navigate. Seems I couldn't get past the Introduction page on one book. It simply wouldn't budge. Another book required a return to the table of contents to turn pages or move ahead a chapter.
Well, under my own nose was a solution staring me right in the face. Addic had posted about an actual CHM reader for CHM formatted books a few weeks ago. MicrooLap's CHM eBook Reader is the application for Pocket PC which appeared to be the solution I was looking for.
CHM ebook Reader Boasts these features:
Opening CHM files of any size not longer than in 2 seconds, even huge Microsoft Press CHM eBooks; Full-Text Search in a whole CHM file; Table of Contents; Index view; User-friendly graphical interface that accurately reproduces the interface paradigm of the CHM reader for Windows PC platform; Handling all images in Pocket Internet Explorer format; Handling Microsoft ClearType technology for best font display; Document ranging: you can view a document both in its original size or zoomed to the window size; Customizable font size; Joystick support.
I thought, if true, this could put an end to all of my white paper headaches of recent days. So I loaded it up and took it for a spin. The first thing that stuck out to me is it launches just like a normal CHM ebook on a desktop computer. In other words it has exact same tree view that I am used to. A click to the correct chapter and I am reading away.

I dropped a note to the developers and they right off the bat pointed out what I couldn't expect from it. They say it wouldn't do JS (what's JS?) but they are planning on fixing it in the next month. Also there is an issue with IE in 2002 not supporting CSS - they can't fix that, but they are working on embedding it with other browsers.

All I know is I was finally reading my white papers from my Pocket PC finally! Not only that, it loads them very fast. I loaded a 10MB CHM file in less than 2 seconds.
Bugs and wishes
I have had a few issues scrolling using the joypad. It reads up and down just fine, but hitting the next chapter is tricky. Sometimes I hit it just right and it goes to the next chapter, sometimes it doesn't.
I wish both the desktop and Pocket PC CHM ebook readers would ad a bookmark feature. I can't say that I blame Microolap for not including it, since Microsoft doesn't either. I don't know why Microsoft will release technical CHM manuals containing hundreds of pages without including a bookmark feature. Am I supposed to read 750 pages in one sitting?
If you are looking for a smooth and inexpensive way to tame those big CHM books and help files, Microolap's reader is a good option. It is quick, works out of the box and allows me to carry these big manuals around in my pocket.
Microolap CHM eBook reader runs $14.95. For a trial download or purchase, look here