To present a standard interface to the novice user, all applications must have a Help item in their menu bars. The Help item is defined with a particular style, attributes, and position in the menu. When the user chooses the Help item, the menu posts a WM_HELP message to the owner window, enabling the application to respond appropriately.

The item should read Help, have an identifier of 0, and have the MIS_BUTTONSEPARATOR or MIS_HELP item styles. The Help menu item should be the last item in the menu template, so that it is displayed as the rightmost item in the menu bar.

If an application uses the system default accelerator table, the user can select the Help item using either a mouse or the F1 key.