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Subject:Re: Two versions of help From:Martyn Thirlway <thirlwaym -at- USOFT -dot- NL> Date:Mon, 6 May 1996 09:29:00 PDT
As far as two (or more) versions of Help go, we have started from the
Doc-To-Help basis, and then written our own macros to carry out the final
processing of the RTFs prior to compilation. This has enabled us to provide
help files for Windows3.x, NT, and '95, from the same source (which is also
the printed book). Not only that, but the macros also process the RTFs
differently, so that the help on '95 is able to use some of the new bells
and whistles (A_Links, Step-by-step windows with Next buttons, and so on).
The cnt files are also automatically generated. Where it gets very
interesting is the fact that we are using (extracted subs from) the same
macros to create help files using Japanese W4W as well, with a large measure
of success. At present most of our users are still on 3.x, but at least we
can provide help on any of the supported platforms without any major
overheads.
> I expect the tools will soon allow you to choose which compiler to use at
> compilation time.
> The tool that I use (HDK3) does, it has a drop down list to choose the
> compiler. Win 3.1, Win95 are currently on the list. Others, NT and HTML
will
> be added to this list in future versions. (Especially if people keep
asking
> Virtual Media for this feature.)
Doc-to-Help provides a compiler choice as well. The dilemma for us
was to choose which way to go. The Win95 option offered some fun
bells and whistles but we think most of our end users may still be
3.1, and the Windows 3.1 help engine wouldn't run our help compiled
for 95, soooo....
Jean
----------------------------------
Jean A. Pratt
Project Manager
ID2 Research Group
Dept. of Instructional Technology
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-2830
JPRATT -at- ID2 -dot- USU -dot- EDU http://www.coe.usu.edu/it/id2/
PH: 801-797-2630
FAX: 801-797-3851
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