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.
>I was wondering what the conventional wisdom is regarding HTML help and
>system requirements of users' computers.
>....<snip>.....
>I'm worried that by choosing to use RoboHTML I will cut out a considerable
>swath of bankers who are still using Win 3.1 and/or don't have browsers
installed.
>I guess I might be answering my own question here by saying that I should stick
>with RoboHelp, but I thought some of you folks might have some insight on the
>limitations of HTML help.
This falls in the category of assessing your users needs and requirements. It's
parallel to determining whether you should deliver information in Help, pdf, or
printed form. You certainlydo need to take into account users' system
requirements among other things. There's no reason to follow a particular
technology trend if it doesn't suit the needs of your users.
At any rate, in RoboHelp, you can produce WinHelp and WebHelp from the same
source, if you find later that you do need to go the HTML route with your
WinHelp project.
>Unfortunately, Blue Sky was of no great assistance, as they no longer
>provide phone support for our version of RoboHelp (5.0) and sales person was
>unreachable.
Blue Sky develops authoring tools. They can't determine your users' needs.
Karen Molloy
i2 Technologies
karen_molloy -at- i2 -dot- com