RE: help system in pdf files

["Rick Bishop" <rickbishop -at- austin -dot- rr -dot- com>]

Gina:  I did this once for a client so it is certainly possible, but not fun
to create and it really sucks as a help file mainly because you have to load
the entire help file pdf as one file before the first screen is viewed. If
you anticipate only a couple dozen screens, it won't be so bad.

You can have a search page and linked index page(s), but you can't scroll
inside a page, and the programmers will hate you when you give them a huge
list of 'views' links to set up the context sensitive links.

And updating after release? Forget it. You have to recreate the pdf, which
throws off all your views, forcing you to submit a completely new list of
context links to the programmers to edit for the next release. This means
your version is always one behind.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
My current client (a small start up) wants a context-sensitive help system
that is basically a series of pdf files. Click on the help button and a pdf
file displays for that screen. He (the CTO of this company) stated that a
TOC, Index, and search tabs are "not important for IT staff." The software
is used by sophisticated system administrators.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can make this work? My source file is
in MS Word. If possible, I would like to single source this.
I'm wondering if there is any way to have the screens link to topics in the
pdf file.

Thanks,
Gina

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