Opening an HLP File

The HLP file type is primarily associated with Stata.

HLP	File extension: HLP
	File type:	package

What is an HLP file?

HLP files mostly belong to Stata by StataCorp. A HLP file contains a package used by Stata data modeling and visualization software. Another type of HLP file is a help document used by the gfxboot screen for various bootloaders. Older/discontinued versions of Windows operating system used a HLP file to save online help articles and documentation about a Windows program. This format is deprecated and the Windows Help application has been discontinued.

How do you open HLP files?

You need a suitable software like Stata to open an HLP file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your HLP file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a HLP file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online HLP Text Viewer

Choose your .hlp file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

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Programs that open and convert HLP files:

Stata by StataCorp
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. HLP files are often referred to as Stata plugins because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Advisor (help document) by Microsoft
Advisor is a discontinued Windows feature which displays helpful information in Microsoft programs. Help document documents used by Advisor are saved in HLP files. This file format is classified as Data.
gfxboot (help document) by gfxboot Developers
gfxboot is a graphical user interface for bootloaders such as syslinux, GRUB, and LILO. It uses a help document saved in a HLP file. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: gfxboot
HP-95LX (help document) by Hewlett-Packard
HP 95LX is a discontinued palmtop computer running 32-bit MS-DOS operating system. It uses a help document saved in a HLP file. This file format is classified as Data.
Windows Help (help document) by Microsoft
Windows Help is a discontinued Windows operating system program for viewing documentation and tutorials about Windows programs and features. This file format is classified as System. Related links: WinHelp, WinHelp

HLP file format details:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). However, different programs can use the same file extension, and file extensions can be assigned incorrectly. So you need a detailed analysis of a file to find out the format and the associated program. Our examination of the HLP files comes to the following conclusion:

The HLP file extension is used very often and mainly uses a special format. The following file formats are most commonly found in HLP files:

85% of all HLP files belong to Windows HELP File. These are binary files, so they do not contain words or text. The file size is in the range of 21 KB to 3 MB. This file type was primarily in use more than 20 years ago. These files can be linked to grammar, russian, help, dictionnaire, introducing, achtemeier, bisonftp, unidrv and qaed.
1% of all HLP files are Microsoft Advisor Help files. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. The files are on average 68 KB in size and range from 17 KB to 68 KB.

All the rest of the HLP files (14%) have different formats, often, for example, gfxboot compiled html help and Peter Norton Computing Help. These files sometimes refer to edit. You can get all the details of your HLP file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .hlp file to analyze" above.

Technical Data for HLP File Extension

File classification:

Plugin

Related files:

help, hpl, gid, hpj, hip, dl_, cnt, brd, ete, pdf, zip, dct, do, smcl

Mime type:

application/winhlp, application/octet-stream

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: helpfile, FileType: Help File, AppName: Windows Winhlp32 Stub
EXEFile: winhlp32.exe

ProgramID: hlpfile, FileType: Help File, AppName: Windows Winhlp32 Stub
EXEFile: winhlp32.exe

ProgramID: hlpfile, FileType: Help File, AppName: WinHelp
EXEFile: winhlp32.exe

ProgramID: hlpfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\System32\winhlp32.exe %1

ProgramID: hlpfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\winhlp32.exe %1

ProgramID: hlpfile
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\winhlp32.exe %1

ProgramID: hlpfile
EXEFile: WINHELP.EXE %1

Show all 7 listings To Top

an hlp package is a special file format by StataCorp and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with HLP files

Associate the HLP file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open packages. Because only the current version supports the latest HLP file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the StataCorp manufacturer website after an available Stata update.
To make sure that your HLP file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .HLP file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.