XYplorer CHM Help

[Stefan]

I have played a lil bit: => XYplorer 7.80.chm [see below for an zipped version]

It far away from being perfect (f.ex. the topics are not sorted correctly yet)
but i can search inside an topic which helps me a lot.

[admin]

I have played a lil bit: => XYplorer 7.80.chm

It far away from being perfect (f.ex. the topics are not sorted correctly yet)
but i can search inside an topic which helps me a lot.

I'd like to try it but it does not work here. I can open the file but I can see no HTML, instead it shows what you see when your browser cannot reach a page.

[j_c_hallgren]

I have played a lil bit: => XYplorer 7.80.chm

I DL'd it and it seems to work here...there are some minor formatting things like doubled topics on top of right side, but looks ok in general.

Update: Ok, now maybe I see what Don was seeing...that HTML formatting doesn't seem to be effective... No hyperlinks, etc.

[TheQwerty]

I'd like to try it but it does not work here. I can open the file but I can see no HTML, instead it shows what you see when your browser cannot reach a page.

I saw that at first, then used SysInternal's streams command to remove the Zone.Identifier stream and it worked fine.

Would be nice if XY had native support for working with ADS.

[Stefan]

Thats interesting, downloading with FireFox the file have no ADS, only dl with iE i saw this stream.
When i download with iE i see the same effect as Don.
(I know an registry item which could be set to allow to open such files from other recurses then local too, i think this could be related)

Thank you TheQwerty to remind me on ADS. read...
more...

An solution for iE downloaders could be if i provide an zipped version of this file

[admin]

Thats interesting, downloading with FireFox the file have no ADS, only dl with iE i saw this stream.
When i download with iE i see the same effect as Don.
(I know an registry item which could be set to allow to open such files from other recurses then local too, i think this could be related)

Thank you TheQwerty to remind me on ADS. read more...

An solution for iE downloaders could be if i provide an zipped version of this file

Okay, this one works fine. Pity that it completely lacks any HTML formatting (at least here).

[Stefan]

Better?

XYplorer_7.80.ZIP

Edit:
arrrg, now i have only half of the content

Maybe Don would provide the current help sources?

[admin]

Better?

XYplorer_7.80.ZIP

Edit:
arrrg, now i have only half of the content

Maybe Don would provide the current help sources?

No problem, here: http://www.xyplorer.com/download/XYHelp ... 081126.zip

[Stefan]

Thanks,

XYplorer.chm-20081126.zip

I've done this with MS HTML Help Workshop
BTW,I've found an guide here:
http://www.help-info.de/de/Help_Info_Wi ... erting.htm
http://www.help-info.de/

i think i have to work on the layout?

ABC Amber HLP Converter does an fine conversion from HLP to CHM as my last post shows, but i got only an half of the whole content.
Maybe an limitation of the trial version?

ABC Amber Text Converter drop the page title and wrote Page X instead :-( but keep the layout quite well, aside those ghost footnotes?


I investigate more...

[admin]

Just FYI: I've been trying countless Help Authoring Tools for years without success. I was finally ready to pay up to 500 Euros for a tool that works, but even at that price I did not find anything.

Definition of "tool that works":
- Converts my HLP sources to CHM while keeping the layout.
- No need of manual polishing.
- Good HTML code quality.
- Independence from the tool (in case I later want to change): no proprietary format of sources.

[Stefan]

Just FYI: I've been trying countless Help Authoring Tools for years without success. I was finally ready to pay up to 500 Euros for a tool that works, but even at that price I did not find anything.

Definition of "tool that works":
- Converts my HLP sources to CHM while keeping the layout.
- No need of manual polishing.
- Good HTML code quality.
- Independence from the tool (in case I later want to change): no proprietary format of sources.

The converters seams all to be not that good.
Even that $500 H&M v5 have problems to auto convert anchor links correctly

This is the best i could do right now:
http://rapidshare.de/files/41001423/XYp ... F.zip.html

I had to do manually work, f.ex. the links to the anchors on the "Scripting Commands Reference" page
must be modified since they come from an single-page document (.RTF file) and an CHM is an multi HTML-files document.
So i had to tell H&M that the anchors are on the very same side inside the CHM.
(form: href="anchor" ---to: href="this doc" anchor="anchor") :-(
(to my aid there is an XML output which i could s&r with VIM)


I guess the best is to write the help in such an authoring tool itself instead of use an RTF and HLP file first ?
I imagine one could copy and paste the pages from the RTF to topics inside such an tool?


If i could "help" you again, just let me know... (will still test from time to time)

[admsupport]

On complain I often formulate about help files is about print screen definition. It is usually way to low. ADSL is more than common, file server are cheap/free, HDD have greatly increased in capacity as CPU in power, but still most of the PDF are made with a ridiculous low resolution and terrible image quality.

[admin]

I must say that I still prefer the old classic help format by far.

It's more practical/useful. For me, it's easier to find the most relevant information (if it's there, of course).

I wouldn't care about changing it. It works, and works better that any other format, IMO.

No problem, I did not pay 500$ for my Help authoring tool for nothing:
http://www.xyplorer.com/download/XYplorerHLP.zip

[highend]

500$ for my Help authoring tool

Which is?

[admin]

Help & Manual