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Subject:Re: Robohelp HTML vs WinHelp From:Jo Francis Byrd <jbyrd -at- byrdwrites -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 17 Apr 2001 10:18:47 -0500
What kind of help will you be developing, Mark, traditional rtf-based WinHelp,
or HTML based help? This is the first decision you need to make. For traditional
WinHelp you will need RoboHelp for WinHelp. This produces the traditional help
you've been seeing since the early 90s. It does not need any kind of a "reader"
as long as the user has Windows on the machine. It is based on the WinHelp 4
engine, which Microsoft no longer supports because it is being replaced by
HTML-based help. Traditional RoboHelp sits inside of Microsoft Word, using a
large number of customized, sophisticated macros to convert the document into
rtf format which the compiler (the WinHelp 4 engine) requires.
HTML help (what eHelp calls WebHelp) does not have any limitations on the
operating system or the browser. It is cross-browser. HTML-based help, the
compiled help file (it has a .chm extension) REQUIRES Microsoft Explorer be on
the user's machine (it does not have to be the browser of choice, it just has to
be on the machine). You will need RoboHelp for Microsoft HTML Help to create
either. This is a separate standalone program. It stands independent of
Microsoft Word.
Decide which type of help you are going to develop, then purchase the
appropriate tool since you don't want to purchase the Suite.
HTH
Jo Byrd
Byrd Writes Communications
Mark Tipple wrote:
> I have been directed by my manager to develop a help file for a C+ based
> application our department is currently developing. I understand RoboHelp is
> one of the better tools for developing help files. I was wondering what the
> difference is between HTML help and WinHelp. I don't want to purchase the full
> RoboHelp Office 9 suite ($899), but I'm not sure what the difference is
> between "RoboHelp for Microsoft HTML Help" ($499) and "RoboHelp for Winhelp"
> ($499).
>
> Any help from the experts out there would be greatly appreciated.
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