TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:FWD: HTML Help vs. Net Help From:"Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- RAYCOMM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 26 Feb 1997 08:53:35 PST
Forwarded on request:
--- On Wed, 26 Feb 1997 09:26:57 -0600 Bill Bledsoe <Bill -dot- Bledsoe -at- hera -dot- cms-stl -dot- com> wrote:
ALL,
More on HTML-based help:
<MOLLY ASKED>
> Does anyone know of a tool that you can use to create context-sensitive,
> HTML-based online help that is *not* browser dependent?
>
> I've been reading up on NetHelp, but I'd like to find something similar that
> doesn't require the user to have a particular kind of browser on their system.
>
> Molly
> molly_hovorka -at- cybercash -dot- com
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
> Hi Molly,
>
<MELANIE WROTE SOME GOOD STUFF HERE>
>
> Melanie Futrell
>
> ********************************************
> Melanie Paschetag Futrell
> Sr. Documentation Analyst
> Computer Language Reseach, Inc.
> Melanie_Futrell -at- clr -dot- com
> ********************************************
We're busy authoring NetHelp for a UNIX application, and while intially
functionality is similar to WinHelp... you still lose some features you
might want (what's this, true popups). The key with NetHelp is that all
of its features will work in browsers that are at least HTML 3.2
capable. HTMLHelp has to work with MSIE in order to take advantage of
some of its more WinHelp-like features.
Might I suggest Molly and all and additional resource to the fine list
Melanie gave:
1. The WinHelp-l list and archives have a lot of posts about each
platform... and the latest news that the authors are hearing. Check out
www.documenation.com for the archives.
2. I've cc'd the folks at Netscape in on this message. You might try
contacting them, and Ralph Walden from MS as well. I will say, that the
Netscape camp has been remarkably silent on NetHelp since the SDK came
out last year. NS are you listening? We'd like an update on when we
can expect some additional functionality.
Bottom line, NS NetHelp is still less browser specific... but it doesn't
integrate all of the WinHelp features that HTMLHelp does. The trade off
right now is that you have to use MSIE if you want WinHelp like
functionality. Of course, if your application is UNIX based like ours,
and you want to author HTML as your help vehicle, your are limited to
only NetHelp. MSIE doesn't run on the UNIX platform... and the
scuttlebutt is that it never will. (NOTE: Yes, you certainly could use
Bristol's HyperHelp as a UNIX Help option.)
Clear as mud? Good luck!
--
************************************************************
Bill Bledsoe
Senior Technical Writer - CMS
St. Louis, MO
Bill -dot- Bledsoe -at- cms-stl -dot- com or intlidox -at- anet-stl -dot- com
webmaster: St. Louis Chapter - STC <www.stc.org/region6/stl>
"The Internet is the first thing that
humanity has built that humanity doesn't
understand," Eric Schmidt, CTO Sun 10/18/96
*************************************************************
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
