Creating Dual-Mode Context-Sensitive Help

Want to provide your users with state-of-the art HTML Help but don't want to force them to install Internet Explorer (which is required to run compiled HTML Help files)? In this article we show you how to create context-sensitive Help that displays a topic from a .CHM file if IE is installed on the user's system, and displays the equivalent topic from a .HLP file if IE isn't installed.

ComponentOne (1999). Articles>Documentation>Online>HTML

Creating Modular HTML Help Systems  

It is possible to create good, efficient, easy-to-maintain HTML Help systems - and it really isn't that difficult. The bad news is that if you're not sure exactly what settings need to be made, you will find creating modular HTML Help systems very frustrating. Read this article and avoid being frustrated.

ComponentOne (1999). Articles>Documentation>Online>HTML

Linking Context-Sensitive HTML Help

The mechanism that Doc-To-Help uses for mapping topics in a context-sensitive HTML Help differs from the mechanism it uses for context-sensitive WinHelp. This article tells you what you need to know to properly link context-sensitive HTML Help to an application.

ComponentOne (1999). Articles>Documentation>Online>HTML

Strategies for Using Information Types in HTML Help  

Information types are a new feature of HTML Help, but they are not a new concept to technical communication. Information types are simply categories of information that can be assigned to a discrete piece of information so the information can be displayed or hidden, based on the category selected by the user. The goal of this paper is to get help authors thinking about ways that they can use information types to help their users filter, sort, and understand the structure of the information presented to them through online help.

Houser, Rob. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>Documentation>HTML>Help

To HTML or Not: What Are the Questions?  

With the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW), HTML has become a viable way of putting information online. But, is it always the best way? For interactive multimedia presentations, HTML is not always the best choice. You have to consider the need for platform-specific file formats, the limits of Web browsers, and the lack of comprehensive Web-authoring environments. However, for online documentation and help, HTML is often a good choice. HTML converters help produce usable online documents, and HTML-based help systems provide similar features to those found in WinHelp.

Gerrior, Suzanne, Marianne Rodrigues, Monica E. Stein, Frances C. McGill and Stephen R. Blair. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Documentation>Online>HTML

Tools and Technology Stem Overview  

Well, here it is. It's a little over one year after Netscape announced they have a tool for us to use when developing HTML help. We are all pretty well settled, right? We have determined which information we are converting to HTML first and how this new media is going to alter our development process. In fact, I’m sure that everyone is ready to make the leap and is simply waiting for all the other software vendors to release their tools so we can start comparing.

Bates, Michael P. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Documentation>HTML