Re: Modifying help files
What if we just use plain HTML for windows and launch the users browser of choice just like we do on UNIX? I am sure we could write some code that would allow us to have contextual help for the different dialogs... If we do this then the same help could be used for most platforms and it can be changed only where necessary... this is something we could shoot for for the next major release after 2.1 (3.0 grin)... elrod Julie Belote wrote: Hello Mike, You have probably seen my last two emails regarding the help files and HTML. Yes, I can do all kinds of exporting, but all formats have some issues. So far no one has come up with a help system that works all the time for all platforms and browsers (regardless of marketing claims). RoboHelp uses the Microsoft Window's Help Complier. Julie -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Michael Rich Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 12:34 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Modifying help files For the Window's builds I use a software tool called RoboHelp. It's not an "open source" program. However any help I build with it is licensed for Couldn't she do an export to RTF or HTML from RoboHelp? It has to support that kind of stuff, and then maybe the files could be used in the regular help compiler for windows? just a thought... mike ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
Re: Help files
Actually, the help files should be written in XML and then translated to the platform-specific HTML format by automatic means. At 11:12 PM 5/31/2000 -0700, you wrote: It would be nice to be able to use the same format for both platforms. Also I know the Mac help system is now HTML... so is Be This would make translations like Victor's easier too... elrod Joe Cosentino wrote: One thing is that FreeAmp could change to using HTML Help files. Micro$haft makes a HTML Help studio that is freely downloadable from their website. Plus, the HTML files are a hell of a lot easier to maintain than the RTF files. Just my 2c, Joe ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
Re: Help files
We may want to base any XML help approach on JavaHelp. Sun has defined a simple and general file format for platform independent, context-sensitive help files. See http://java.sun.com/products/javahelp/spec-1.0.pdf. Obviously Freeamp is not implemented in Java, but it doesn't appear that the raw XML format defined by Sun necessarily implies use in Java programs. We could use Sun's DTDs as a starting point for our approach. It shouldn't be too hard for me to develop a standalone tool that processes help files in this format and outputs some intermediary files that can be fed to native, platform specific helpfile distiller applications. I must say that I personally don't feel like doing XML I/O in anything other than Java (but since it's an auxiliary support tool, I hope Java wouldn't be too much of a problem). Anyone think this approach has merit? c At 11:12 PM 5/31/2000 -0700, you wrote: It would be nice to be able to use the same format for both platforms. Also I know the Mac help system is now HTML... so is Be This would make translations like Victor's easier too... elrod Joe Cosentino wrote: One thing is that FreeAmp could change to using HTML Help files. Micro$haft makes a HTML Help studio that is freely downloadable from their website. Plus, the HTML files are a hell of a lot easier to maintain than the RTF files. Just my 2c, Joe ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
Re: Modifying help files
Forwarded from Julie, the Help goddess... For the Window's builds I use a software tool called RoboHelp. It's not an "open source" program. However any help I build with it is licensed for use with that product. It's a very expensive program and I doubt Victor would want to spend $900.00 dollars to change the help. Of course, there are lots of applications out there that can be used to change help files, probably even some shareware...I use RoboHelp because it's the industry standard. I would be happy to get Victor's comments on what he wants changed in the help. ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
Help files
One thing is that FreeAmp could change to using HTML Help files. Micro$haft makes a HTML Help studio that is freely downloadable from their website. Plus, the HTML files are a hell of a lot easier to maintain than the RTF files. Just my 2c, Joe ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
RE: Modifying help files
Well I want to traslate the Help to Spanish =), then I think that I can buy this software (Robohelp) and try to do it. =) and what about the Linux's build? what program do you use? Thanks Victor ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
RE: Modifying help files
For the Window's builds I use a software tool called RoboHelp. It's not an "open source" program. However any help I build with it is licensed for Couldn't she do an export to RTF or HTML from RoboHelp? It has to support that kind of stuff, and then maybe the files could be used in the regular help compiler for windows? just a thought... mike ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
RE: Help files
Hi Joe, "HTML Help" requires certain IE4 components to display the help. Either the end-user must have IE4 or higher installed, or FreeAmp has to install these additional components. This is one of the reasons we chose not to use Microsoft HTML Help. Julie -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Joe Cosentino Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 10:33 AM To: FreeAmp List Subject: Help files One thing is that FreeAmp could change to using HTML Help files. Micro$haft makes a HTML Help studio that is freely downloadable from their website. Plus, the HTML files are a hell of a lot easier to maintain than the RTF files. Just my 2c, Joe ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
RE: Modifying help files
Hello Mike, You have probably seen my last two emails regarding the help files and HTML. Yes, I can do all kinds of exporting, but all formats have some issues. So far no one has come up with a help system that works all the time for all platforms and browsers (regardless of marketing claims). RoboHelp uses the Microsoft Window's Help Complier. Julie -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Michael Rich Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 12:34 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Modifying help files For the Window's builds I use a software tool called RoboHelp. It's not an "open source" program. However any help I build with it is licensed for Couldn't she do an export to RTF or HTML from RoboHelp? It has to support that kind of stuff, and then maybe the files could be used in the regular help compiler for windows? just a thought... mike ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeamp.org/mailman/listinfo/freeamp-dev
