Example:
HELP_DIR=/path/to/help/directory
HELP_SYS=ON
Before diving into the fixes, you need to understand the architecture. In Oracle Forms (6i, 9i, 10g, 11g, and 12c), when a user requests help, the Forms runtime tries to launch an external WinHelp (.hlp) or Oracle Help for Java (OHJ) engine.
The error code breaks down as follows:
In simple terms: Your form wants to show a help page, but the helper application (the viewer) isn't working correctly.
Experiencing the FRM18105 error? You are not alone. This frustrating runtime error has plagued Oracle Forms developers and end-users for nearly two decades. If you have just clicked on a Help button or pressed F1 inside an Oracle Forms application (EBS, Oracle Apps, or a custom-built form) only to be met with the pop-up stating "FRM18105: Failed to start the help system," your workflow has just hit a brick wall. frm18105 failed to start the help system fix
The worst part? The forms engine is not telling you why it failed. It could be a missing file, a registry error, a version mismatch, or a path typo.
Don't worry. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every possible cause and solution for the FRM18105 error, from basic file checks to advanced configuration tweaks.
Add the help JARs to your CLASSPATH (in the script that launches Forms, e.g., startForms.sh or runforms.bat):
Windows:
set CLASSPATH=%ORACLE_HOME%\forms\java\ohj.jar;%ORACLE_HOME%\forms\java\frmhelp.jar;%CLASSPATH%
Linux/Unix:
export CLASSPATH=$ORACLE_HOME/forms/java/ohj.jar:$ORACLE_HOME/forms/java/frmhelp.jar:$CLASSPATH
On Windows, right‑click the Forms executable → Run as Administrator to rule out permission issues.
Q1: I’m on Windows 11. Will FRM-18105 ever be fixed permanently?
A: Only by migrating to .chm help or using Oracle Forms 12c with HTML help. Microsoft will not restore WinHelp.
Q2: Does FRM-18105 affect web-deployed Forms (WebUtil)?
A: Yes, if the client browser launches help locally. The same fixes apply on the client machine. Example:
HELP_DIR=/path/to/help/directory
HELP_SYS=ON
Q3: Can I suppress FRM-18105 and disable help entirely?
A: Yes. Override the default help system in your form:
SET_APPLICATION_PROPERTY(HELP_SYSTEM, '');
This disables all F1 help and no error will appear.
Q4: I use Citrix / Terminal Services. Any special considerations?
A: Ensure winhlp32.exe is installed on the terminal server, and the user profile has write access to %TEMP% for help index files.