diff --git a/libraries/lib-strings/Identifier.h b/libraries/lib-strings/Identifier.h
index e8293de16..30f2de251 100644
--- a/libraries/lib-strings/Identifier.h
+++ b/libraries/lib-strings/Identifier.h
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ struct CommandIdTag;
 using CommandID = TaggedIdentifier< CommandIdTag, false >;
 using CommandIDs = std::vector<CommandID>;
 
-using ManualPageID = wxString;
+struct ManualPageIDTag;
+using ManualPageID = TaggedIdentifier< ManualPageIDTag >;
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/FFmpeg.cpp b/src/FFmpeg.cpp
index 78493992b..e849f94d3 100644
--- a/src/FFmpeg.cpp
+++ b/src/FFmpeg.cpp
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ public:
 
    void OnDownload(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
    {
-      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("FAQ:Installing_the_FFmpeg_Import_Export_Library"));
+      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"FAQ:Installing_the_FFmpeg_Import_Export_Library");
    }
 
    wxString GetLibPath()
diff --git a/src/FreqWindow.cpp b/src/FreqWindow.cpp
index 3c81b1292..766db7634 100644
--- a/src/FreqWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/FreqWindow.cpp
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ void FrequencyPlotDialog::OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
    // Original help page is back on-line (March 2016), but the manual should be more reliable.
    // http://www.eramp.com/WCAG_2_audio_contrast_tool_help.htm
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Plot Spectrum"));
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Plot Spectrum");
 }
 
 bool FrequencyPlotDialog::Show(bool show)
diff --git a/src/HistoryWindow.cpp b/src/HistoryWindow.cpp
index 461aec39d..ac85edd53 100644
--- a/src/HistoryWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/HistoryWindow.cpp
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ void HistoryDialog::OnCompact(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void HistoryDialog::OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Undo,_Redo_and_History"));
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Undo,_Redo_and_History");
 }
 
 void HistoryDialog::OnItemSelected(wxListEvent &event)
diff --git a/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp b/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
index 6c339ea5f..3d90ac14a 100644
--- a/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ public:
 
    void OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent &WXUNUSED(evt))
    {
-      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("File_Menu:_Compact_Project"), true);
+      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"File_Menu:_Compact_Project", true);
    }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/Screenshot.cpp b/src/Screenshot.cpp
index d063ee346..26948a8d0 100644
--- a/src/Screenshot.cpp
+++ b/src/Screenshot.cpp
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ void ScreenshotBigDialog::OnClose(wxCommandEvent &  WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void ScreenshotBigDialog::OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Screenshot"));
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Screenshot");
 }
 
 void ScreenshotBigDialog::OnUIUpdate(wxUpdateUIEvent &  WXUNUSED(event))
diff --git a/src/Tags.cpp b/src/Tags.cpp
index e7ee73eca..9c96095e2 100644
--- a/src/Tags.cpp
+++ b/src/Tags.cpp
@@ -972,7 +972,7 @@ void TagsEditorDialog::OnDontShow( wxCommandEvent & Evt )
 
 void TagsEditorDialog::OnHelp(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Metadata_Editor"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Metadata_Editor", true);
 }
 
 bool TagsEditorDialog::TransferDataFromWindow()
diff --git a/src/TimerRecordDialog.cpp b/src/TimerRecordDialog.cpp
index 5da326810..e95a309e2 100644
--- a/src/TimerRecordDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/TimerRecordDialog.cpp
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ void TimerRecordDialog::OnAutoExportCheckBox_Change(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(eve
 
 void TimerRecordDialog::OnHelpButtonClick(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Timer_Record"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Timer_Record", true);
 }
 
 void TimerRecordDialog::OnOK(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
diff --git a/src/effects/Contrast.cpp b/src/effects/Contrast.cpp
index a32a46c7b..dd26a803e 100644
--- a/src/effects/Contrast.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Contrast.cpp
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ void ContrastDialog::OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
    // Original help page is back on-line (March 2016), but the manual should be more reliable.
    // http://www.eramp.com/WCAG_2_audio_contrast_tool_help.htm
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Contrast"));
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Contrast");
 }
 
 void ContrastDialog::OnClose(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
diff --git a/src/effects/EffectManager.cpp b/src/effects/EffectManager.cpp
index 0b6f9e8b4..5d97948fd 100644
--- a/src/effects/EffectManager.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/EffectManager.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@ void EffectManager::GetCommandDefinition(const PluginID & ID, const CommandConte
       S.EndArray();
       S.EndField();
    }
-   S.AddItem( GetCommandUrl( ID ), "url" );
+   // use GET() to expose some details to macro programming users
+   S.AddItem( GetCommandUrl( ID ).GET(), "url" );
    // The tip is a translated string!
    S.AddItem( GetCommandTip( ID ).Translation(), "tip" );
    S.EndStruct();
diff --git a/src/export/Export.cpp b/src/export/Export.cpp
index af883f093..d62f8385d 100644
--- a/src/export/Export.cpp
+++ b/src/export/Export.cpp
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ void Exporter::OnExtensionChanged(wxCommandEvent &evt)
 void Exporter::OnHelp(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(evt))
 {
    wxWindow * pWin = FindProjectFrame( mProject );
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(pWin, wxT("File_Export_Dialog"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(pWin, L"File_Export_Dialog", true);
 }
 
 void Exporter::SetFileDialogTitle( const TranslatableString & DialogTitle )
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ void ExportMixerDialog::OnCancel(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void ExportMixerDialog::OnMixerPanelHelp(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Advanced_Mixing_Options"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Advanced_Mixing_Options", true);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/export/ExportFFmpegDialogs.cpp b/src/export/ExportFFmpegDialogs.cpp
index 1f861be2f..a7b9cbe92 100644
--- a/src/export/ExportFFmpegDialogs.cpp
+++ b/src/export/ExportFFmpegDialogs.cpp
@@ -2562,7 +2562,7 @@ void ExportFFmpegOptions::OnOK(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void ExportFFmpegOptions::OnGetURL(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Custom_FFmpeg_Export_Options"));
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Custom_FFmpeg_Export_Options");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/export/ExportMP3.cpp b/src/export/ExportMP3.cpp
index ce9f11ea8..3278c6668 100644
--- a/src/export/ExportMP3.cpp
+++ b/src/export/ExportMP3.cpp
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ public:
 
    void OnDownload(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
    {
-      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("FAQ:Installing_the_LAME_MP3_Encoder"));
+      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"FAQ:Installing_the_LAME_MP3_Encoder");
    }
 
    wxString GetLibPath()
diff --git a/src/export/ExportMultiple.cpp b/src/export/ExportMultiple.cpp
index d70250dab..8f316f3ca 100644
--- a/src/export/ExportMultiple.cpp
+++ b/src/export/ExportMultiple.cpp
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ void ExportMultipleDialog::OnCancel(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void ExportMultipleDialog::OnHelp(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("Export_Multiple"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"Export_Multiple", true);
 }
 
 void ExportMultipleDialog::OnExport(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
diff --git a/src/menus/HelpMenus.cpp b/src/menus/HelpMenus.cpp
index 48be098de..c4680c4a7 100644
--- a/src/menus/HelpMenus.cpp
+++ b/src/menus/HelpMenus.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ void OnQuickHelp(const CommandContext &context)
    auto &project = context.project;
    HelpSystem::ShowHelp(
       &GetProjectFrame( project ),
-      wxT("Quick_Help"));
+      L"Quick_Help");
 }
 
 void OnManual(const CommandContext &context)
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ void OnManual(const CommandContext &context)
    auto &project = context.project;
    HelpSystem::ShowHelp(
       &GetProjectFrame( project ),
-      wxT("Main_Page"));
+      L"Main_Page");
 }
 
 void OnAudioDeviceInfo(const CommandContext &context)
diff --git a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
index f3cc899db..0eb475cae 100644
--- a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ void LibraryPrefs::OnMP3FindButton(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 void LibraryPrefs::OnMP3DownButton(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
    // Modal help dialogue required here
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("FAQ:Installing_the_LAME_MP3_Encoder"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"FAQ:Installing_the_LAME_MP3_Encoder", true);
 }
 
 void LibraryPrefs::SetFFmpegVersionText()
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ void LibraryPrefs::OnFFmpegFindButton(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void LibraryPrefs::OnFFmpegDownButton(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, wxT("FAQ:Installing_the_FFmpeg_Import_Export_Library"), true);
+   HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, L"FAQ:Installing_the_FFmpeg_Import_Export_Library", true);
 }
 
 bool LibraryPrefs::Commit()
diff --git a/src/widgets/ErrorDialog.cpp b/src/widgets/ErrorDialog.cpp
index b0ba0a1cc..3458922ba 100644
--- a/src/widgets/ErrorDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/ErrorDialog.cpp
@@ -133,12 +133,13 @@ void ErrorDialog::OnOk(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void ErrorDialog::OnHelp(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   if( dhelpPage.StartsWith(wxT("innerlink:")) )
+   const auto &str = dhelpPage.GET();
+   if( str.StartsWith(wxT("innerlink:")) )
    {
       HelpSystem::ShowHtmlText(
          this,
-         TitleText(dhelpPage.Mid( 10 ) ),
-         HelpText( dhelpPage.Mid( 10 )),
+         TitleText(str.Mid( 10 ) ),
+         HelpText( str.Mid( 10 )),
          false,
          true );
       return;
diff --git a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
index a7fe2db65..315e1c521 100644
--- a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ const wxString HelpSystem::HelpServerHomeDir = wxT("/");
 const wxString HelpSystem::HelpServerManDir = wxT("/man/");
 #endif
 const wxString HelpSystem::LocalHelpManDir = wxT("/man/");
-const wxString HelpSystem::ReleaseSuffix = wxT(".html");
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -310,19 +309,24 @@ void HelpSystem::ShowHelp(wxWindow *parent,
                           const ManualPageID &PageName,
                           bool bModal)
 {
+   /// The string which is appended to the development manual page name in order
+   /// obtain the file name in the local and release web copies of the manual
+   const wxString ReleaseSuffix = L".html";
+
    FilePath localHelpPage;
    wxString webHelpPath;
    wxString webHelpPage;
    wxString releasePageName;
    wxString anchor;	// optional part of URL after (and including) the '#'
-   if (PageName.Find('#', true) != wxNOT_FOUND)
+   const auto &PageNameStr = PageName.GET();
+   if (PageNameStr.Find('#', true) != wxNOT_FOUND)
    {	// need to split anchor off into separate variable
-      releasePageName= PageName.BeforeLast('#');
-      anchor = wxT("#") + PageName.AfterLast('#');
+      releasePageName = PageNameStr.BeforeLast('#');
+      anchor = wxT("#") + PageNameStr.AfterLast('#');
    }
    else
    {
-      releasePageName = PageName;
+      releasePageName = PageName.GET();
       anchor = wxT("");
    }
    // The wiki pages are transformed to static HTML by
@@ -338,23 +342,23 @@ void HelpSystem::ShowHelp(wxWindow *parent,
    //
    // The front page and 'quick_help' are treated as special cases and placed in
    // the root of the help directory rather than the "/man/" sub-directory.
-   if (releasePageName == wxT("Main_Page"))
+   if (releasePageName == L"Main_Page")
    {
-      releasePageName = wxT("index") + HelpSystem::ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
+      releasePageName = L"index" + ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
       localHelpPage = wxFileName(FileNames::HtmlHelpDir(), releasePageName).GetFullPath();
-      webHelpPath = wxT("https://")+HelpSystem::HelpHostname+HelpSystem::HelpServerHomeDir;
+      webHelpPath = L"https://" + HelpSystem::HelpHostname + HelpSystem::HelpServerHomeDir;
    }
-   else if (releasePageName == wxT("Quick_Help"))
+   else if (releasePageName == L"Quick_Help")
    {
 // DA: No bundled help, by default, and different quick-help URL.
 #ifdef EXPERIMENTAL_DA
-      releasePageName = wxT("video") + HelpSystem::ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
+      releasePageName = L"video" + ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
       localHelpPage = wxFileName(FileNames::HtmlHelpDir(), releasePageName).GetFullPath();
-      webHelpPath = wxT("http://www.darkaudacity.com/");
+      webHelpPath = L"http://www.darkaudacity.com/";
 #else
-      releasePageName = wxT("quick_help") + HelpSystem::ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
+      releasePageName = L"quick_help" + ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
       localHelpPage = wxFileName(FileNames::HtmlHelpDir(), releasePageName).GetFullPath();
-      webHelpPath = wxT("https://")+HelpSystem::HelpHostname+HelpSystem::HelpServerHomeDir;
+      webHelpPath = L"https://" + HelpSystem::HelpHostname + HelpSystem::HelpServerHomeDir;
 #endif
    }
    // not a page name, but rather a full path (e.g. to wiki)
@@ -390,21 +394,21 @@ void HelpSystem::ShowHelp(wxWindow *parent,
       // Replace "_." with "."
       releasePageName.Replace(wxT("_."), wxT("."), true);
       // Concatenate file name with file extension and anchor.
-      releasePageName = releasePageName + HelpSystem::ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
+      releasePageName = releasePageName + ReleaseSuffix + anchor;
       // Other than index and quick_help, all local pages are in subdirectory 'LocalHelpManDir'.
       localHelpPage = wxFileName(FileNames::HtmlHelpDir() + LocalHelpManDir, releasePageName).GetFullPath();
       // Other than index and quick_help, all on-line pages are in subdirectory 'HelpServerManDir'.
-      webHelpPath = wxT("https://")+HelpSystem::HelpHostname+HelpSystem::HelpServerManDir;
+      webHelpPath = L"https://" + HelpSystem::HelpHostname + HelpSystem::HelpServerManDir;
    }
 
 #ifdef USE_ALPHA_MANUAL
-   webHelpPage = webHelpPath + PageName;
+   webHelpPage = webHelpPath + PageName.GET();
 #else
    webHelpPage = webHelpPath + releasePageName;
 #endif
 
    wxLogMessage(wxT("Help button pressed: PageName %s, releasePageName %s"),
-              PageName, releasePageName);
+              PageName.GET(), releasePageName);
    wxLogMessage(wxT("webHelpPage %s, localHelpPage %s"),
               webHelpPage, localHelpPage);
 
@@ -535,7 +539,7 @@ void LinkingHtmlWindow::OnLinkClicked(const wxHtmlLinkInfo& link)
 
    if( href.StartsWith( wxT("innerlink:help:")))
    {
-      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, href.Mid( 15 ), true );
+      HelpSystem::ShowHelp(this, ManualPageID{ href.Mid( 15 ) }, true );
       return;
    }
    else if( href.StartsWith(wxT("innerlink:")) )
diff --git a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
index d22db38fb..3731fd101 100644
--- a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
+++ b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
@@ -110,10 +110,6 @@ public:
    /// Must both start and end with '/' characters.
    static const wxString LocalHelpManDir;
 
-   /// The string which is appended to the development manual page name in order
-   /// obtain the file name in the local and release web copies of the manual
-   static const wxString ReleaseSuffix;
-
 };
 
 class ShuttleGui;
diff --git a/src/widgets/MultiDialog.cpp b/src/widgets/MultiDialog.cpp
index 1cd2923c5..be270052c 100644
--- a/src/widgets/MultiDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/MultiDialog.cpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ MultiDialog::MultiDialog(wxWindow * pParent,
             auto pButton = S.Id(wxID_OK)
                .AddButton(XXO("OK"), wxALIGN_CENTER, !log);
 
-            if (!mHelpPage.IsEmpty()) {
+            if (!mHelpPage.empty()) {
                auto pHelpBtn = S.Id(wxID_HELP)
                   .AddBitmapButton(theTheme.Bitmap(bmpHelpIcon), wxALIGN_CENTER, false);
                pHelpBtn->SetToolTip(XO("Help").Translation());