I still use CHM format, and PDF. I used to use HDK years ago, but never kept
up with its evolution (or did it die?). 

But a new Microsoft help authoring system is a long time in coming. With
VS2010, a new help system and Help Viewer was released, and accompanying its
production was the SDK - see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/thehelpguy/ and also
here <http://bit.ly/cHa0VO>  

It's XHTML / HTML5 -based, iirc. 

Having said that, I think the new Help authoring system itself was either
still-born or its gestation is longer than the average elephant's. 

There's an Australian-run website which is a full bottle on all of the
Microsoft Help systems - The Helpware Group - from memory, a bit of a messy
website but a lot of good information if you're persistent / tolerant. 

  _____  

Ian Thomas
Victoria Park, Western Australia

  _____  

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Greg Keogh
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 2:54 PM
To: 'ozDotNet'
Subject: Help authoring

 

What are people using these days for writing application help? (someone
writes help don't they?)

 

Over the years I've had HDK for old HLP files, then RoboHelp for CHM files,
then I used FrontPage and the hc.exe for CHM files. Sometimes I've just
written a Word document and converted it to one big PDF.

 

The H2(?) format used by local MSDN help was proprietary and we couldn't use
that.

 

Now HLP files are long dead and CHM files seem to be causing security
warnings and falling out of favour. Although some big vendors like
ComponentOne are still supplying CHM files.

 

So overall, I'm totally confused by the current directions in help file
authoring for .NET developers. Is anyone here on top of this issue and has
recommendations?

 

Cheers, Greg

 

 

  _____  

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