AnsweredAssumed Answered

vrf Creating Help Files.

Question asked by rsb on Nov 21, 2003

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 3

"Goldberg, Mark" <Mark.Goldberg@ATK.COM> wrote:
> Greetings All.
>
> I am getting ready to start creating the help files for my newest program. I
> was wondering how everyone else makes their help files, or if anyone makes
> help files. Presently I am considering PDF Files so they cannot be changed.
> I was thinking about html or PDF but not sure which way to go. Someone else
> suggested that I do an HTML and then convert it to a PDF. What about windows
> style Help files. What do you use?

Given that PDF is editable anyhow and needs a special viewer (albeit
readily available) and HTML is so universal, the choice for me has
been quite easy: HTML.

Since I can snag an ActiveX control and put into VEE, HTML docs are
even nicer- can bring up the help right there inside of VEE.
Or of course view anywhere else also.

Can even throw in active examples via hyperlinks, etc.

Others will of course have other needs- but HTML works great for me.

If control is an issue, you could look at compiled HTML I suppose.

Stan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan Bischof Agilent Technologies 707-577-3994 stan_bischof@agilent.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: rsb@soco.agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to "owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".

No one else has this question

Outcomes

3 Replies

mark.goldberg Nov 20, 2003 8:39 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Greetings All.

I am getting ready to start creating the help files for my newest program. I
was wondering how everyone else makes their help files, or if anyone makes
help files. Presently I am considering PDF Files so they cannot be changed.
I was thinking about html or PDF but not sure which way to go. Someone else
suggested that I do an HTML and then convert it to a PDF. What about windows
style Help files. What do you use?

Mark Goldberg
RF/Antenna Engineer
Millimeter Wave & RF Design
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
ATK Missile Systems Company LLC
21050 Califa Street
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
TEL: 818 887-0844 x 178
FAX: 818 887-2366
Mark.Goldberg@atk.com

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: rsb@soco.agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to "owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
david_gladfelter Nov 20, 2003 9:41 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Hi Mark,

The Microsoft HTML Help workshop is a free tool that turns a combination of several types of source files, including HTML files, into the .CHM (Compiled HTML Help) format you see in so many help files today. For-pay products like RoboHelp claim to make it easier, but I've found you can write help files from this tool pretty much directly.

Using .chm's means you are out-of-the-box compatible with Windows 98 and up, and the viewer is redistributable for older windows installations. All your source files, including pictures, etc, are compiled into one non-editable file. You can link to the help from applications that support context help links.

There is a learning curve, because aside from HTML there are a couple of proprietary file formats and GUI tools that set up the context links, the index, and the table of contents of the help file.

You can download the workshop here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/htmlhelp/html/hwMicrosoftHTMLHelpDownloads.asp

Sincerely,

Dave Gladfelter

-----Original Message-----
From: Goldberg, Mark [mailto:Mark.Goldberg@ATK.COM]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 12:40 PM
To: VRF
Subject: [vrf] Creating Help Files.

Greetings All.

I am getting ready to start creating the help files for my newest program. I
was wondering how everyone else makes their help files, or if anyone makes
help files. Presently I am considering PDF Files so they cannot be changed.
I was thinking about html or PDF but not sure which way to go. Someone else
suggested that I do an HTML and then convert it to a PDF. What about windows
style Help files. What do you use?

Mark Goldberg
RF/Antenna Engineer
Millimeter Wave & RF Design
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
ATK Missile Systems Company LLC
21050 Califa Street
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
TEL: 818 887-0844 x 178
FAX: 818 887-2366
Mark.Goldberg@atk.com

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: david_gladfelter@agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to "owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: rsb@soco.agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to "owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
mark.goldberg Nov 20, 2003 10:57 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
David,

Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for. My program will
initially be used here but may be used at our other facilities back east
later, and the people will need something common to view help files. Also
makes it look more universal.

Thanks again,

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: GLADFELTER,DAVID (A-Loveland,ex1)
[mailto:david_gladfelter@agilent.com]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 12:42 PM
To: VRF
Subject: [vrf] RE: Creating Help Files.

Hi Mark,

The Microsoft HTML Help workshop is a free tool that turns a combination of
several types of source files, including HTML files, into the .CHM (Compiled
HTML Help) format you see in so many help files today. For-pay products
like RoboHelp claim to make it easier, but I've found you can write help
files from this tool pretty much directly.

Using .chm's means you are out-of-the-box compatible with Windows 98 and up,
and the viewer is redistributable for older windows installations. All your
source files, including pictures, etc, are compiled into one non-editable
file. You can link to the help from applications that support context help
links.

There is a learning curve, because aside from HTML there are a couple of
proprietary file formats and GUI tools that set up the context links, the
index, and the table of contents of the help file.

You can download the workshop here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/htmlhelp/ht
ml/hwMicrosoftHTMLHelpDownloads.asp

Sincerely,

Dave Gladfelter

-----Original Message-----
From: Goldberg, Mark [mailto:Mark.Goldberg@ATK.COM]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 12:40 PM
To: VRF
Subject: [vrf] Creating Help Files.

Greetings All.

I am getting ready to start creating the help files for my newest program. I
was wondering how everyone else makes their help files, or if anyone makes
help files. Presently I am considering PDF Files so they cannot be changed.
I was thinking about html or PDF but not sure which way to go. Someone else
suggested that I do an HTML and then convert it to a PDF. What about windows
style Help files. What do you use?

Mark Goldberg
RF/Antenna Engineer
Millimeter Wave & RF Design
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
ATK Missile Systems Company LLC
21050 Califa Street
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
TEL: 818 887-0844 x 178
FAX: 818 887-2366
Mark.Goldberg@atk.com

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: david_gladfelter@agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to
"owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: Mark.Goldberg@ATK.COM
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to
"owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".

---
You are currently subscribed to vrf as: rsb@soco.agilent.com
To subscribe send a blank email to "join-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To unsubscribe send a blank email to "leave-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
To send messages to this mailing list, email "vrf@agilent.com".
If you need help with the mailing list send a message to "owner-vrf@it.lists.it.agilent.com".
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions

vrf Creating Help Files.

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content