Writing Help files

[Jonathan Finney]

I want to write a procedures guide for my business and the format used in
help files would be perfect as help files can be browsed without having to
open an application first.

Is it possible to use Word to create such a document using inserted
hypertext links?

If not, does anybody know of an application to do this easily and
efficiently?

[S.J.Haribabu]

Hi Jonathan,

Customizing Help content for users
=============================
Microsoft Office XP allows you to create and distribute custom Help content
for users. For instance, you can use custom Help to explain new features
you have added to Office or instruct how to use a template or form. When a
user asks the Office Assistant a question about a custom feature,
applicable topics will appear in the search list generated by the Answer
Wizard, and the topics will look like built-in Help.

Creating and distributing custom Help content for use in Office Help
involves the following steps:

• Creating HTML-compatible Help files
===============================

Custom Help topics can be HTML Help files that reside on a Web site, or
compressed HTML (CHM) Help files that you distribute to users' computers or
store on a network server. The Answer Wizard Builder analyzes the words
contained in these files when it indexes your topics.

• Creating a custom Answer Wizard (AW) file
======================================

The Microsoft Answer Wizard Builder stores your custom Help topics in a
project file (AWB file) that is used to build an AW file — an index that is
searched by the Answer Wizard in response to users' queries.

• Registering the custom Help files
===================================

To make your custom Help content available to users, copy the new AW file
to each user's computer and update each user's Windows registry for the AW
file. The next time a user asks the Office Assistant a question, the custom
Help content automatically becomes part of the Answer Wizard results list.

Creating custom Help content
Creating custom Help topics involves these steps:

• Choosing a custom Help file format (HTML or CHM files)
================================================

Each file type has its advantages and disadvantages, depending upon your
needs — namely, how you plan to store the Help files, and how often you
plan to update them.

• Creating the custom HTML topics
=================================

If you want to create, format, and link HTML Help topics, you can use any
HTML editor. If you want to create CHM files, install Microsoft HTML Help
Workshop and compile your custom Help. You have the option of compiling
HTML pages into a CHM file when your custom Help is complete.

Jonathan, for detailed information look at
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/office/xp/all/reskit/en-us/
admd03.mspx

Thanks,

***@online.microsoft.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[Jonathan Finney]

Many thanks, SJ. I'll check it out.
--
Jonathan Finney

Post by S.J.Haribabu
Hi Jonathan,
Customizing Help content for users
=============================
Microsoft Office XP allows you to create and distribute custom Help content
for users. For instance, you can use custom Help to explain new features
you have added to Office or instruct how to use a template or form. When a
user asks the Office Assistant a question about a custom feature,
applicable topics will appear in the search list generated by the Answer
Wizard, and the topics will look like built-in Help.
Creating and distributing custom Help content for use in Office Help
. Creating HTML-compatible Help files
===============================
Custom Help topics can be HTML Help files that reside on a Web site, or
compressed HTML (CHM) Help files that you distribute to users' computers or
store on a network server. The Answer Wizard Builder analyzes the words
contained in these files when it indexes your topics.
. Creating a custom Answer Wizard (AW) file
======================================
The Microsoft Answer Wizard Builder stores your custom Help topics in a
project file (AWB file) that is used to build an AW file - an index that

is

Post by S.J.Haribabu
searched by the Answer Wizard in response to users' queries.
. Registering the custom Help files
===================================
To make your custom Help content available to users, copy the new AW file
to each user's computer and update each user's Windows registry for the AW
file. The next time a user asks the Office Assistant a question, the custom
Help content automatically becomes part of the Answer Wizard results list.
Creating custom Help content
. Choosing a custom Help file format (HTML or CHM files)
================================================
Each file type has its advantages and disadvantages, depending upon your
needs - namely, how you plan to store the Help files, and how often you
plan to update them.
. Creating the custom HTML topics
=================================
If you want to create, format, and link HTML Help topics, you can use any
HTML editor. If you want to create CHM files, install Microsoft HTML Help
Workshop and compile your custom Help. You have the option of compiling
HTML pages into a CHM file when your custom Help is complete.
Jonathan, for detailed information look at

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/office/xp/all/reskit/en-us/

Post by S.J.Haribabu
admd03.mspx
Thanks,
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[nerd32768]

I have heard that the best help program is RoboHelp. It is supposed to be
very easy to use, although I have not used it before. You can find it at
http://RoboHelp.com. There is a 14 day trial on the website, and it has
additional support for custom scripting. the bad thing about RoboHelp is the
price tag of $999.

[Jonathan Finney]

Way too expensive for me!

Thanks, though.