online help system...HELP!

["Chris Fitzgerald" <chrisfitztex -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Hi everyone!

I write documents for our systems' software.  The software changes rapidly 
and a drastic new version is being written right now with a release sometime 
in the early new year. It's in need of a help system as a means to alert 
users of the ongoing changes and multitude of functions, but I'm not sure 
where to begin. I've been searching the archives, but thought that I'd ask 
for help this way, too.

I've been approached by the Software Manager to configure a help system; as 
he says, "...it's time to stop talking about it..."

My qualifications include limited knowledge of the programming language that 
the system is written (C++) and above average HTML skills. I started writing 
for this company 3 months ago and have never written online help.

The software that I document is extremely layered (real-time and off-line 
analysis for atomic force microscopy). I'm still learning this system, but 
am up for the challenge.

Sooo, my question is this, where do I begin?  The software is going through 
such a drastic gui change right now, and I'd like to write the help system 
as the engineers write the new system. (Can this be done?)

Our tech. pubs. manager was looking at various online help methods. (She 
just moved to a new company). Before she left, she mentioned writing the 
manual modularly, then filtering it in to Web works publisher, then in to an 
online help system.

We do not have Web Works Publisher, nor do I think that the company will 
spend a great deal of money to create such a system (i.e., hiring someone 
who knows what they're doing or purchasing another software for online 
help). We do have RoboHelp and I just installed it.

We use FrameMaker on a Mac to create the hardcopy documents, but I know that 
the way people read manuals and online documentation is different. By the 
way,the software is written for PCs.

So, these are my questions: Where do I begin? What is the best (most 
efficient) method of creating such a system within our means? Can it be 
done? Is there another source that I can learn this information [i.e., 
RoboHelp list, Online help support group (ha!)]

Thanks for your help in advance!

Chris Fitzgerald
www.geocities.com/chrisfitztex/chris.htm
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