How to open a code or text file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no software.
Open your .CHM file
Drop it on the box, choose it from your device, or paste the text straight in.
View it instantly
Your .CHM file opens neatly formatted with line numbers.
Search, copy or download
Search the text, jump to any line, then copy what you need or download a clean copy.
What is a .CHM file?
Plain text that programs, servers and people write every day.
A CHM file is a Microsoft Compiled HTML Help file, a single compressed bundle of HTML pages, images, and a searchable index, used for Windows software manuals and e-books. On Windows, double-click it; the built-in viewer (hh.exe) opens it with a contents tree and search. If every page is blank, the file is blocked by Windows security: right-click it, choose Properties, and click Unblock.
Programs that open .CHM files
| Full name | Microsoft Compiled HTML Help file |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| First released | 1997 (HTML Help 1.0, with Windows 98) |
| Category | Text & Code |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-htmlhelp |
| Signature | 49 54 53 46 "ITSF" - Info-Tech Storage Format |
Related viewers
Every viewer is free to use.
Frequently asked questions
Is my .CHM file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and highlighted for you.
Why do some characters look wrong (é, ł)?
That usually means the file was saved in one encoding and opened in another. We detect UTF-8, UTF-16 and the Windows-1250/1252 code pages automatically and show which one was used.
Can it handle huge log files?
Yes, up to 50 MB. Only the lines on screen are drawn, so scrolling stays smooth. Syntax colours are switched off for files over 1.5 MB to keep things fast.
How do the log level filters work?
We find levels like ERROR, WARN, INFO and DEBUG on each line. Lines without a level, such as stack traces, stay with the entry above them, so filtering to errors keeps the full trace.
Can I edit the file?
This is a viewer. To change code, download it or copy it into your editor. Converting encodings and line endings is planned.
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