OT: html help

Ruatha · #1 May 25th, 2004, 12:56 PM

Dogscoff>
I was about to write the help files for the SE4 companion, when I see that most help files today are made of HTML? files instead of .HLP files.
Seems to be something about CHM and Rich Text Format???

Looked at some freeware help writing programs but I don't have a clue as to what to do...Honestly though, I've only looked at it for about 2-3 minutes so I guess I shouldn't be shouting for help already...
It's just that I thought it'd be easy, sigh, nothing ever is....

dogscoff · #2 May 26th, 2004, 01:57 AM

Ruatha: I woudn't know, but html is a sensible choice for help files since it has all the features you're likely to need (image support, basic layout, hyperlinking) and is universal- ie can be used on pretty much any machine anywhere with the need for any special software.

Easy to edit too.

Gandalf Parker · #3 May 25th, 2004, 03:11 PM

Definetly html help files are a good idea. But dont look for a fancy writer then try to insert the help. Write the help files then insert the html. I think the effect is better. My personal preference for writing web pages is using Paint and Notepad

Fyron · #4 May 25th, 2004, 08:55 PM

I suggest a real text editor, such as Metapad or Editplus, over Notepad. Syntax highlighting works wonders.

Ruatha · #5 May 26th, 2004, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
Definetly html help files are a good idea. But dont look for a fancy writer then try to insert the help. Write the help files then insert the html. I think the effect is better. My personal preference for writing web pages is using Paint and Notepad

Hmm, I don't reall y know what you mean as I haven't written any true help file before, I've always done my own help system, but this time I wann go with the standard.
So you mean I should write .HLP files and incorporate HTML into those (Sorry if it's somehow a stupid question...)

Jack Simth · #6 May 26th, 2004, 08:12 AM

I suspect he means skip the .hlp files altogether and go with pure Hyper Text Markup Language - .hlp files require specific readers, and may not port well to a mac or linux box (as well as being more subject to change, due to the nature of Microsoft). While HTML still requires a reader of some form, it is a MUCH more common format, and virtually any modern platform will be able to read it. Likewise, it's been (how many years now?) since HTML came out, and HTML documents written then still display in essentially the same way as they did when they were first displayed, even though the browsers have changed.

narf poit chez BOOM · #7 May 26th, 2004, 08:19 AM

Thanks everybody. I'll see what happens.