Windows blocks downloaded help file

[Dave Gilbert]

I downloaded this and played around with it yesterday. One thing I noticed... the F1 help files seem to be missing? The table of contents are all there, but the actual information is all blank.

[Crimson Wizard]

I downloaded this and played around with it yesterday. One thing I noticed... the F1 help files seem to be missing? The table of contents are all there, but the actual information is all blank.

:/ This is becoming a common problem for people.
Solution is this: open help file (ags-help.chm) properties and click Unblock button, as shown on this example:

[Dave Gilbert]

It worked! Apologies if the question was asked before in this thread. In my defense, the thread is up to 14 pages. Maybe make an edit on the original post?

In any case, thanks! I'm starting a new project soon so I am eager to dig into this.

[Crimson Wizard]

It worked! Apologies if the question was asked before in this thread. In my defense, the thread is up to 14 pages. Maybe make an edit on the original post?

I am not sure it is related to this version. I suspect it is related to certain files distributed in ZIP archives.
We would need to see how will it work if AGS is installed by installer program.

[morganw]

I don't think that zip files support NTFS streams, but Internet Explorer will add the zone identifier to the file when downloading it. This is what blocks the content from being opened so it shouldn't be relevant to files coming from the installer.

[Dave Gilbert]

Huh. Now the problem seems to have reverted itself, and the solution doesn't seem to work anymore. I keep pressing the "unblock" button and then "apply" but the help files remain blank. Is there a step I'm missing?

edit: this is really preventing me from working on a game, because there are a lot of obsolete commands (ProcessClick being one) and I can't look up the replacements in the manual. And since this is the only version that will let me make a game in 640 x 360 resolution (to fit modern monitors), I'm kinda stuck. Any help appreciated!

[Eggie]

edit: this is really preventing me from working on a game, because there are a lot of obsolete commands (ProcessClick being one)

I know this one at least! It changed to Room.ProcessClick

Jeeez boy howdy did that one fuck me over for a day

EDIT: That post was from two days ago. probably ignore I was here

[Dave Gilbert]

I am still having the problem, so no worries!

Is there an online version of the new manual anywhere? I don't want to have to bug the forum every time I run into another obsolete command. Or is there another way I can download the file so my computer doesn't mark it as a "file from the internet"?

[Crimson Wizard]

No, we do not have updated manual yet, sorry.
But there is a long explanation post that mentions every change:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=51050.0

Also, I am explaining these changes in detail here (not complete): http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=52499.0

[Snarky]

Or is there another way I can download the file so my computer doesn't mark it as a "file from the internet"?

If this diagnosis is correct:

I don't think that zip files support NTFS streams, but Internet Explorer will add the zone identifier to the file when downloading it. This is what blocks the content from being opened so it shouldn't be relevant to files coming from the installer.

... that suggests that downloading with a different browser might perhaps avoid the problem.

[morganw]

There is a tool to remove alternate stream data, which should show if this is the problem or not.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440

[Dave Gilbert]

There is a tool to remove alternate stream data, which should show if this is the problem or not.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440

THAT DID IT!!

Thank you so much.

[Monsieur OUXX]

There is a tool to remove alternate stream data, which should show if this is the problem or not.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440

THAT DID IT!!

Thank you so much.

Dave would you mind writing a small tutorial about that (either directly in the wiki, or just here).

[morganw]

There is a tool to remove alternate stream data, which should show if this is the problem or not.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897440

THAT DID IT!!

Thank you so much.

Dave would you mind writing a small tutorial about that (either directly in the wiki, or just here).

Code: DOS

streams.exe -s -d <EXTRACTED FOLDER>

...to remove all alternate streams on all files in the folder. But this isn't AGS specific, it's specific to using Windows.

[Monsieur OUXX]

I've made a Wiki article : http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/wiki/Prevent_AGS_from_triggering_antiviruses

[selmiak]

Jus wondering, you do this as a developer to your game and after that it runs everywhere you distribute it to or is it for users to use on every AGS game they download?

[morganw]

I think the wiki article is confusing the issue. This is nothing to do with hidden malware and antivirus detections, it's the origin of a file being stored with it so that you can be warned about opening files you've downloaded from the Interent. Clearing all alternate streams is the last resort if something is blocking you from unblocking the content manually (it could be antivirus interfering at this point, but it's more likely a UAC elevation issue combined with where you've extracted the files).

The whole behaviour is client side and client specific, you cannot prepare your content to bypass it. In the context of this conversation you could say people downloading alpha builds should be aware that this can happen, but people using the current stable release of AGS will be running an installer to get the files onto the disk and so shouldn't have a problem.

[Snarky]

And isn't this specifically a problem with trying to launch the help from the AGS IDE?

Since this is a Wiki, I've taken advantage of that to edit the article (nice effort, Ouxx!) with my understanding of the issue.

[morganw]

No it's not specific with trying to open help from the IDE. It's likely you were already asked to confirm that you wanted to run the IDE itself if the help will not open (it will have the same zone identifier saved in an alternate stream). The difference is you'll be prompted to confirm you really want to run a program you've downloaded (it's handled by the shell which has a mechanism to ask you), but you aren't prompted when the help viewer tries to open the help file (it's handled by the viewer itself which just blocks without asking).

It looks like there is a registry key for the help viewer where you could permit opening content from the "internet zone":

Code: REG

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"MaxAllowedZone"=dword:00000003

...but this changes behaviour for all help files and just using the unblock button should suffice. If you can't unblock it's likely you've extracted the files to somewhere like the root of the system disk where your user account doesn't have write access without running an elevated process.

I think the wiki page needs a change of title (and URL) and all mentions of malware removed. I'll do it if I have permission to do so.

[Crimson Wizard]

I think the wiki page needs a change of title (and URL) and all mentions of malware removed. I'll do it if I have permission to do so.

I believe any forum member can edit Wiki.