Re: Help Authoring Tools

[Dan <dmg -at- SOFTEXPORT -dot- COM>]

Doc-To-Help 3.0  gives
* Superior HTML Help
* Superior Online Help
* Superior Documentation........ from a single source

First Tool to Support All Types of WinHelp and HTML Help
Doc-To-Help 3.0 is the first tool that allows users to create any type of
HTML Help and Windows Help from a single, easily maintained source.
Specifically, Doc-To-Help 3.0 supports:
* Compiled HTML Help
* ActiveX-enabled HTML Help
* Java-enabled HTML Help
* Generic HTML
* Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 Help
* Windows 3.1 and 3.0 Help
* Professional quality printed documentation

Doc-To-Help 3
* Single-source support for all versions of WinHelp and flavors of HTML Help
* Conditional text feature allows authors to mark content as print-only,
online-only, WinHelp-only or HTML-only
* Doc-To-Help 3.0 includes fully integrated support for HTML Help, Microsoft
Corporation's latest architecture for building online help to support Windows
applications.
Familiar Authoring Environment
Doc-To-Help 3 works from inside either Word for Windows 95 or Word for
Windows 97, allowing authors to create manuals and Help systems from within
a familiar authoring environment. Fully exploit the power of HTML Help
without having to learn a new tool or a new way of thinking and working.
Conditional Markings and Multiple Build Targets
From a single document, the author can create Windows Help, HTML Help, or
paper documentation.  Using Doc-To-Help's unique conditional marking
feature, the author can mark parts of the document as HTML Help only,
Windows Help only, online only, or print only, and that content will appear
only on the designated platform.  The author can also build multiple
versions for each platform from a single document, and all of this is done
inside Doc-To-Help 3.0.

Full HTML Help Support
Doc-To-Help 3 supports all of these, including automatic generation of the
expanding and collapsing table of contents, automatic generation of the
keyword search, automatic generation of Help system hierarchy, as well as
Information Types. With Information Types authors can mark topics as being
appropriate for certain end-users, and in turn, end-users can filter topics
based on their needs and abilities.

Hope this is useful. More info is on www.wextech.com
Dan

-----Original Message-----
From:   Marilyn Baldwin (mlbb -at- capgroup -dot- com)
Sent:   Friday, March 27, 1998 8:20 PM
To:     TECHWR-L -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu
Subject:        Help Authoring Tools

Note to other TWs: If you reply to my request for help (below), you must
take care that my address really is input as

     mlbb -at- capgroup -dot- com

No other format (e.g., Marilyn_Baldwin -at- capgroup -dot- com) will get to me.
Thanks again!
=========================+

A question to my peers: what experiences (good and bad) can you
share/advice can you give about help authoring tools?  We are looking at
Doc-to-Help, RoboHelp, and ForeHelp (with some slight leaning toward the
latter).  We've read the research on ComputerSelect and elsewhere, but -
before we consider buying and training - it would be wonderful to hear your
"been there, done that" stories.  You may answer on- or off-list.  If
others think it's worthwhile, I'll publish a summary of your comments.
Thanks!

Marilyn Baldwin
mlbb -at- capgroup -dot- com