VS2005 help picking up wrong online version via F1

[David Hearn]

(reposted here after no reply in microsoft.public.vstudio.general)

I recently got a new laptop + wiped it and started from scratch - put
VS2005 onto it and (only) installed the latest MSDN Library DVD. I
opted for "Try online first, then local" option. I've never put any of
the VS2008 betas on this machine.

However, when I do an F1 help in VS2005, the help pops up but fetches
(from the web) the VS.90 version of the help saying "[Note: This topic
is pre-release documentation and is subject to change in future
releases. Blank topics are included as placeholders.]". The URL it is
fetching is:
<http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.ioexception_members(VS.90).aspx>

If I then go to to the "Look for" box in the index on the left and enter
"IOException class, all members", I get the correct (local) page (just
like the next paragraph).

If I change the options to "Try local first, then online" everything
works fine (except I won't get the latest information as I have most of
the MSDN library installed). Doing a F1 on IOException brings up help
with the following URL:
<ms-help://MS.VSCC.v80/MS.MSDN.v80/MS.NETDEVFX.v20.en/cpref12/html/T_System_IO_IOException_Members.htm>

Anyone got any ideas why this might be, and more importantly, how I can
get it to search online to get the correct results? On my old (XP)
laptop this worked fine - I never had any problems like this. This new
laptop is Vista Business, but I can't imagine that it's a Vista problem.
I have VS2005 SP1 and VS2005 SP1 Update for Vista installed.

Any ideas?

Thanks

David

[WenYuan Wang [MSFT]]

Hello David,

According to your description, I understood you met an issue that MSDN
Document Explorer pop up the VS.90 version Help Document, even though you
never installed VS 2008 before. If I misunderstood anything here, please
correct me.

If we choice "Try online first, then local" option, MSDN Document Explorer
will call MTPS web service. I think the problem is that MSDN Document
Explorer doesn't check the current version of Visual Studio. Thereby, the
latest version of related page (VS 9.0) on MSDN website will be return.

As you have seen, this behavior is not related to Windows Vista. I have
checked this behavior on both Windows XP and Windows 2003. MSDN Document
Explorer always points us to the VS 9.0 version of help page. If you try
this behavior on your old XP machine now, I believe the same issue will
occur.

I will consult with product team to check if this is a product issue in
Visual Studio or MSDN Document Explorer. Please wait me one more day. I
will update here as soon as possible.

If you have any more concern, please feel free to let me know. I'm glad to
assist you.
Have a great day,

Wen Yuan
Microsoft Online Community Support
==================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[David Hearn]

Post by WenYuan Wang [MSFT]
Hello David,
According to your description, I understood you met an issue that MSDN
Document Explorer pop up the VS.90 version Help Document, even though you
never installed VS 2008 before. If I misunderstood anything here, please
correct me.

Yes, that is correct.

Post by WenYuan Wang [MSFT]
If we choice "Try online first, then local" option, MSDN Document Explorer
will call MTPS web service. I think the problem is that MSDN Document
Explorer doesn't check the current version of Visual Studio. Thereby, the
latest version of related page (VS 9.0) on MSDN website will be return.
As you have seen, this behavior is not related to Windows Vista. I have
checked this behavior on both Windows XP and Windows 2003. MSDN Document
Explorer always points us to the VS 9.0 version of help page. If you try
this behavior on your old XP machine now, I believe the same issue will
occur.

I've just checked this, and you are correct - my old XP machine (which
also never had VS2008 installed) does fetch the VS 9.0 documentation online.

Post by WenYuan Wang [MSFT]
I will consult with product team to check if this is a product issue in
Visual Studio or MSDN Document Explorer. Please wait me one more day. I
will update here as soon as possible.

Thanks for this, I appreciate it.

David

[WenYuan Wang [MSFT]]

Hello David,
Thanks for your waiting.

I have submitted this issue in our DB for Visual Studio product team to
investigate.
The issue is that "do F1 help in VS2005, the Document Explorer pops up but
fetches (from the web) the VS.90 version of the help page."
Thanks again for your post.
This will benefit our product quality improvement very much.

But I'm afraid this issue may not be fixed very soon.
For urgent issues, we can contact Microsoft CSS directly.
If the problem is confirmed to be a product bug, the case charge will be
free.
You can check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone
numbers.

Please let me know if you have any more concern on this issue. It's my
please to assist you.

Have a great day.
Best regards,

Wen Yuan
Microsoft Online Community Support
==================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[WenYuan Wang [MSFT]]

Sorry,

It's my *please* to assist you.

correct:
It's my pleasure to assist you.

Have a great day,
Wen Yuan
Microsoft Online Community Support
==================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.