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Context Sensitive Help (CSH) Resources

I'm investigating the possibility of context sensitive help for a future project. Since CSH would affect the way we make software around here, I'm charged with finding all I can about it -- what are the technologies, what are the various ways of implementing, what's the diff between the phrases "dynamic help" and "CSH" -- and reporting back to the team I work with.

Everything I've found so far is specific to a particular HAT, and while, for example, Flare's Help has a detailed section on how to create Context Sensitive DotNet help, I'd like to fill in a broader canvas about CSH in general. I'm surprised at how little info I found googling "context sensitive help" and "dynamic help".

Where are the books and websites?

Thank you for any ideas.

By redwing at 2008-02-11 14:06 | | | | | | redwing's blog | login or register to post comments | printer friendly version

Thanks Tom and techcomdood.

Thanks Tom and techcomdood.

Tom, I just got through bookmarking your blog. Your java trick sounds interesting. I'll have to read it through carefully again a few times before I understand. You're right, it sounds complex in the explaining. Or rather, it sounds simple enough but some parts don't create a clear picture in my head.

Techcomdood, thanks for the contact info. I hadn't really thought of this in terms of "which HAT to use" -- I'm pretty committed to using Flare, just wanted to get a broad understanding of the ways one might implement CSH so I can present intelligently to my developer buddies.

Matt F.
Technical Communicator
Seattle

By redwing at 2008-02-19 14:59 | login or register to post comments

resources for csh

Here's a javascript trick I wrote about here in a blog post:

javascript trick

And here's a great resource from Scott DeLoach: OneClick.

Tom
blog: http://idratherbewriting.com

By tomjohnson1492 at 2008-02-12 21:56 | login or register to post comments

online resources

hat-matrix might help you in actually learning about the differences between tools.

HATT is an excellent place to start learning about authoring online Help.

Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
avid homebrewer and proud beer snob
"I see your OOO message and raise you a clue."

By techcommdood at 2008-02-12 09:09 | login or register to post comments