ChmBatchDecompiler is an open-source, lightweight software tool designed to unpack and extract multiple Compiled HTML Help (.chm) files simultaneously.
Developed by NorthBright, it acts as a specialized reverse-engineering tool for Microsoft’s legacy help file format, allowing users to safely recover original assets without manually extracting each document. Key Features
Batch and Multithreaded Processing: Processes large groups of files simultaneously by leveraging multi-core processors to maximize speed.
Sub-Folder Navigation: Scans nested file directory architectures to automatically queue and extract all contained files.
Asset Recovery: Fully extracts the original HTML source texts, embedded JPEG/PNG images, cascading style sheets (CSS), and script files packaged inside the archive.
Project Reconstruction: Assists in rebuilding broken archives by extracting structural configuration metadata like .hhp (project), .hhc (contents), and .hhk (index) files. Technical Details & Availability
The utility is lightweight and specifically optimized for Windows deployment environments. For transparency and custom compilation, its source code is publicly accessible on the NorthBright ChmBatchDecompiler GitHub Repository. Native Command-Line Alternative
If you need to unpack a single .chm file immediately and do not want to install third-party software, Windows includes a native command-line tool called hh.exe that handles this out of the box. You can execute the extraction by opening a Command Prompt window and typing:
hh.exe -decompile Use code with caution.
Are you looking to use this tool to recover source documentation, or are you planning to convert old help files into a newer format like PDF or ePub? Let me know, and I can guide you through the process! CHM Tool, MiniFolderBackup – NorthBright
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