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Subject:Re: HTML and applications From:Geoff Lane <geoff -at- GJCTECH -dot- FORCE9 -dot- NET> Date:Tue, 10 Mar 1998 10:11:15 -0000
Tom Herme wrote:
>
>Please forgive if this is overly obvious to some of you, but for some
>time now I have been trying to undertstand the HTML and HTML help
>flavors that are available. Unless I'm missing something here, I don't
>follow how HTML-type help replaces Winhelp in applications. Does the
>application's Help button/F1 key/Help Topics menu action fire the user's
>browser into the appropriate HTML file?
---
HTML Help can replace WinHelp 4 when compiled into a CHM file. The HTML
Help control (HHCtrl.ocx) exports an API similar to WinHelp 4 -- the
programmer calls HTML Help, specifying the command, help file, topic and
window details -- HTML Help pops up the required topic in the required
window.
I need to publish on our Intranet and as on-line help. Previously, I used
Wextech Doc-to-Help to produce WinHelp and Wextech HelpSite to convert to
HTML. Unfortunately, the output from HelpSite required a little rework.
Using HTML Help, I effectively do both simultaneously, avoiding the rework.
I'm writing for an in-house audience, and so have close contact with my user
community. When asked, most of my users prefer HTML Help because they have
the navigation interface and the content visible together. However, this is
hardly a scientific study!
HTH,
Geoff Lane
geoff -at- gjctech -dot- force9 -dot- net
