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RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that?
Subject:RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that? From:"Connie Giordano" <connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com> To:"'Missy Smith'" <techpubsmistress -at- live -dot- com>, <phanson -at- quintrex -dot- com>, "'ASK TECHWR-L'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:55:28 -0500
Missy,
It very much depends on the distribution method. If the application is
hosted on a server that users access via a browser, you will have major
issues with CHM. If it's on the desktop (which apparently doesn't happen
very often these days) then CHM can be distributed with the app. If your
users can download from the web (and many IT departments restrict this), you
could be fine if you give them instructions on where it should be saved. If
they can't, you really need to consider webhelp for delivery.
I actually like CHMs, but I don't find that they're very practical in
thin-client, cloud-computing, SaaS environments and that does seem to be the
overwhelming trend.
Connie P. Giordano
The Right Words, LLC
Communications & Information Design
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Missy Smith
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:40 PM
To: phanson -at- quintrex -dot- com; ASK TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that?
Well, I did just that...I sent her the chm and asked her to try it.
Apparently Outlook wouldn't allow her to save the chm, so I zipped it and
sent it to her...Haven't heard from her since. No news is good news?
What would be the best way to distribute the chm? Can they click a link on
our webpage and it will automatically download?
This may just work!
We shall see...
Missy
I would rather not have our manuals edited, no matter what form, but no one
is asking me. :)
> From: phanson -at- Quintrex -dot- com
> To: techpubsmistress -at- live -dot- com
> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:08:56 -0600
> Subject: RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that?
>
> Wow. That's nasty. They could have generated a single CHM file and saved
your users a lot of hard drive space. Is this open to negotiation? I would
generate a CHM and show it to her, pointing out that since it is compiled,
all the HTML files and all the graphic files that used to be saved to the PC
individually are now compressed and saved in a single file.
>
> You could go the extra step and take the HMTL files and graphics from what
was last distributed and import them into a brand new RH project. Then
compile it as a CHM file and compare the difference in size. Because CHM
files have compression, I *think* you would find that the CHM file is
smaller.
>
> I think a reasonable person would be happier with a CHM file.
>
> The only thing I can think of is that having all the individual files
*would* make it easier for someone to edit your content. They could take the
HTML file and muck it up with whatever they want and it would be updated.
Not so with a CHM file - since it is compiled. They wouldn't be able to muck
it up. Depends upon if mucking up the content is important to the users.
>
> Paul
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Missy Smith
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 12:04 PM
> To: ASK TECHWR-L
> Subject: RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that?
>
>
>
> Okay, I just came back from my boss' office. She showed me a zip file that
they distribute and the customer downloads. The only files it contains is
all html files and a folder with images. That's it. She stabs her finger at
the monitor and says, "That's what I want."
>
>
>
> I know the previous tech writing team used WebWorks but I have no idea how
that works or what kind of output that is. We have Frame9 and it doesn't
work with WebWorks, plus we have TCS2 so Robo is the answer.
>
>
>
> Do you know how I can get her what she wants? Thank you.
>
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Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at: http://www.doctohelp.com/
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com -dot-
Are you looking for one documentation tool that does it all? Author,
build, test, and publish your Help files with just one easy-to-use tool.
Try the latest Doc-To-Help 2009 v3 risk-free for 30-days at: http://www.doctohelp.com/
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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