---
title: "HelpContext, HelpFile Properties | Microsoft Docs"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.technology: connectivity
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "01/19/2017"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.topic: conceptual
apitype: "COM"
f1_keywords: 
  - "Error::GetHelpContext"
  - "Error::GetHelpFile"
  - "Error::get_HelpFile"
  - "Error::get_HelpContext"
  - "Error::HelpContext"
  - "Error::HelpFile"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "HelpContext property [ADO]"
  - "HelpFile property [ADO]"
ms.assetid: 2b9ef441-993c-44d4-8f87-fac0979dac1d
author: MightyPen
ms.author: genemi
---
# HelpContext, HelpFile Properties
Indicates the Help file and topic associated with an [Error](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/error-object.md) object.  
  
## Return Values  
  
-   **HelpContextID** Returns a context ID, as a **Long** value, for a topic in a Help file.  
  
-   **HelpFile** Returns a **String** value that evaluates to a fully resolved path to a Help file.  
  
## Remarks  
 If a Help file is specified in the **HelpFile** property, the **HelpContext** property is used to automatically display the Help topic it identifies. If there is no relevant help topic available, the **HelpContext** property returns zero and the **HelpFile** property returns a zero-length string ("").  
  
## Applies To  
 [Error Object](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/error-object.md)  
  
## See Also  
 [Description, HelpContext, HelpFile, NativeError, Number, Source, and SQLState Properties Example (VB)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/description-helpcontext-helpfile-nativeerror-number-source-example-vb.md)   
 [Description, HelpContext, HelpFile, NativeError, Number, Source, and SQLState Properties Example (VC++)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/description-helpcontext-helpfile-nativeerror-number-source-example-vc.md)   
 [Description Property](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/description-property.md)   
 [Number Property (ADO)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/number-property-ado.md)   
 [Source Property (ADO Error)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/source-property-ado-error.md)