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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:Missy Smith <techpubsmistress -at- live -dot- com> To:<connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com>, ASK TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:04:51 -0600
The help system is actually a user manual. No software application.
Currently they post three links per manual on the website: a pdf, a zip file that contains html and image files, and the html system.
Do you have to save a chm to a specific place? Will it not run from anywhere?
Missy
> From: connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com
> To: techpubsmistress -at- live -dot- com; phanson -at- quintrex -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: RoboHelp: Ready to Publish...how do I do that?
> 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
>
>http://www.therightwords.com
>http://www.cowbellchallenge.org
> connie -at- therightwords -dot- com
>
> "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:
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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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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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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