Autonumbering with RoboHelp and Microsoft Word

Because of a bug in Microsoft Word (both Word 97 and Word 2000), it's difficult to number lists automatically. The Numbering Numbering toolbar button toolbar button doesn't work reliably, and neither does RoboHelp's Topic Text Numbered style. Even if you install Microsoft's SR-1 or SR-2 patch to Word 97 or upgrade to Word 2000, you are still likely to encounter problems with any complex numbered list formatting. As a result of these problems, many RoboHelp users have reverted to “manual” list numbering, which is both time-consuming and error-prone. Using the procedure described here, you can automate the process of creating numbered lists in Word and completely insulate yourself from the Word bug that has plagued so many Help authors. To accomplish this, you'll need to take steps detailed on this page.

Knopf Online. Resources>Writing>Software>Microsoft Word

Comparison of HTML Produced by Several Help Authoring Tools (HATs)

Recently, there was a lively discussion on the Help Authoring Tools and Techniques (HATT) mailing list about the relative compactness and efficiency of the HTML code produced by various Help authoring tools. As a result of these discussions, several industry consultants decided to collaborate on a project to compare the HTML, CSS, and CHM files produced by a variety of Help authoring tools.

Knopf Online. Articles>Documentation>Online>Help

Creating Single Source Documents with FrameMaker  

A discussion of how to think about FrameMaker templates for single source documents.

Knopf, David A. Knopf Online (2001). Presentations>Content Management>Single Sourcing>Adobe FrameMaker

FrameMaker Resources

This site contains links of interest to users of Adobe FrameMaker, the industry-leading tool for creating long or complex technical documents. Paired with Quadralay's WebWorks Publisher, it is also an excellent tool for single source solutions that involve some combination of print or PDF, online Help, and Web-based information.

Knopf Online. Resources>Document Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Help Technologies

A page about each of the major online Help technologies: HTML Help, JavaHelp, WebHelp, WebWorks Help, WinHelp, and WinHelp 2000.

Knopf, David A. Knopf Online. Resources>Documentation>Help

RoboHelp Resources

RoboHelp is the industry's top-selling Help authoring tool. Designed for WinHelp and Microsoft HTML Help, RoboHelp can also be used to produce WinHelp 2000, WebHelp, JavaHelp, and Oracle Help for Java.

Knopf Online (2003). Resources>Documentation>Software>RoboHelp

Using Table Cell Borders and Shading in WinHelp

For years, the Microsoft Help Compiler (the one for WinHelp, not HTML Help) has been telling Help authors that we can't use borders or shading or merged cells in the tables we create in our Help topics. But this is actually not true. There is a way. And you don't have to create your tables in a graphics program either. Instead, taking advantage of Word's ability to embed objects created in another application, you can keep your tables “editable” while formatting them to your heart's content with borders and shading. All of this is accomplished using the features of Microsoft Word, so this technique should work with any Word-based authoring tool. As RoboHelp specialists, we have tested the procedure only with RoboHelp versions 5, 6, 7, 2000, 9, and 2002. You can create formatted tables using Word or Excel. Use whichever you prefer.

Knopf Online (2001). Resources>Software>Help>Microsoft Windows

WebWorks Publisher 6 Tips and Tricks  

A presentation covering some techniques for using WebWork Publisher to produce online versions of FrameMaker documentation.

Knopf, David A. Knopf Online (2001). Presentations>Software>Web Design>Adobe FrameMaker

WebWorks Publisher 7 Tips and Tricks  

A presentation describing techniques for Adobe FrameMaker and WebWorks Publisher users.

Knopf, David A. Knopf Online (2002). Presentations>Software>Documentation>Adobe FrameMaker

WebWorks Publisher Resources

This is a page with links to various resources for WebWorks Publisher users. WebWorks Publisher is a 'best of breed' solution for single source publishing with Adobe FrameMaker. Using WebWorks Publisher, you can convert FrameMaker documents to a wide variety of online formats, including Web formats (HTML, HTML + CSS, XML, XML + CSS, XML + XSL), as well as online Help formats (WinHelp, HTML Help, JavaHelp, and WebWorks Help).

Knopf Online. Resources>Software>Web Design>Adobe FrameMaker