Re: Help File Resumes

["Doug, Data Librarian at Ext 4225" <engstromdd -at- PHIBRED -dot- COM>]

Gwen:

This is a reply to:

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What is the best AND cheapest Windows online help development program that I
can purchase to create one?
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As you might have expected, the best is not the cheapest.  The absolute
rock bottom price (assuming you have a copy of WinWord) is to scrounge a
copy of the Help Compiler from an FTP site, The Windows SDK, Access
Distribution Kit or the Microsoft Developer's CD and hand-code the markers
into the document, save it as an .RTF file and compile it with your Help
Compiler.  You'll also need some sort of reference to WinHelp, available
from the same sources, to guide you in your coding.  If you create a
document of any size this way, you will understand WinHelp.  You will hate
it, but you'll understand it.

The next-cheapest thing to do is rummage around a little more on the
sources mentioned for the Help Compiler and find the WHAT*.DOT templates,
which slightly automate some of the more tedious aspects of coding an .RTF
document.  It's still a ticket to Maintenance Hell if the document is very
large and you have to make significant changes, but it is almost free.

To get some experience with a real WinHelp authoring tool, you have to
shell out a several hundred bucks.  The ones I'm most familiar with are
HelpBreeze, ForeHelp, Doc-to-Help and RoboHelp, although I'm sure there are
other excellent tools available.  The office standard is HelpBreeze, and I
can send you the address, ordering information and price lists privately if
you are interested.

Skoal,

Doug                            "There are no small projects,
ENGSTROMDD -at- phibred -dot- com           just incredibly bad initial
                                 estimates."