Help file in Windows 7

[admin]

serendipity, based on this:

Yes, I'm aware that there's a lot a manual work to do. I estimate at least 1-2 weeks. But I decided to go for it.

I would presume it's still in progress..

Yes, it is. There are lots of things I have to fix manually. I just want to know if this basically looks like what you expect from CHM. I never use CHM help because I disgust it strongly (yep, still! ) -- so I have no idea if this looks like a "fine CHM help". (To me it looks just awful.)

Hmmm, I would say its not disgusting. But the current help is not breathtaking either. Also, in the current help its annoying to always switch between Index contents window and content window itself as opposed to CHM where everything is in one window. Makes life easier.
BTW, I wonder if you ever considered HTML format, since its so universal (no OS related problems) and one can make it as pretty as one wants as opposed to any other format mentioned in What's your preferred Help Format?

Also, these days there are some tools to convert Wiki to HTML, so that might be useful too. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, I considered it. But (and this is the only reason I go CHM): You can only win with the bloody standard, and it seems CHM is it. It looks mid-90s in a way that's less pleasant to me than the retro touch of the HLP format. Anyway, enough said.

[TheQwerty]

Yes, I considered it. But (and this is the only reason I go CHM): You can only win with the bloody standard, and it seems CHM is it. It looks mid-90s in a way that's less pleasant to me than the retro touch of the HLP format. Anyway, enough said.

I agree CHM is feeling a bit dated these days, but short of keeping your documentation on the web I'm not familiar with any other method even actually in the running. To be clear it wasn't that I wanted you to use CHM but it needed to be something that worked on Vista/7 where HLP is no longer supported natively.

This first pass is a great step - thanks for, once again, not just ignoring us!

[admin]

Yes, I considered it. But (and this is the only reason I go CHM): You can only win with the bloody standard, and it seems CHM is it. It looks mid-90s in a way that's less pleasant to me than the retro touch of the HLP format. Anyway, enough said.

I agree CHM is feeling a bit dated these days, but short of keeping your documentation on the web I'm not familiar with any other method even actually in the running. To be clear it wasn't that I wanted you to use CHM but it needed to be something that worked on Vista/7 where HLP is no longer supported natively.

This first pass is a great step - thanks for, once again, not just ignoring us!

Well, this is of course a totally egoistic move: want to make all the sales I can. (And you are right that the current state is a disaster.)

[admin]

serendipity, based on this:

Yes, I'm aware that there's a lot a manual work to do. I estimate at least 1-2 weeks. But I decided to go for it.

I would presume it's still in progress..

Yes, it is. There are lots of things I have to fix manually. I just want to know if this basically looks like what you expect from CHM. I never use CHM help because I disgust it strongly (yep, still! ) -- so I have no idea if this looks like a "fine CHM help". (To me it looks just awful.)

Hmmm, I would say its not disgusting. But the current help is not breathtaking either. Also, in the current help its annoying to always switch between Index contents window and content window itself as opposed to CHM where everything is in one window. Makes life easier.
BTW, I wonder if you ever considered HTML format, since its so universal (no OS related problems) and one can make it as pretty as one wants as opposed to any other format mentioned in What's your preferred Help Format?

Also, these days there are some tools to convert Wiki to HTML, so that might be useful too. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, I considered it. But (and this is the only reason I go CHM): You can only win with the bloody standard, and it seems CHM is it. It looks mid-90s in a way that's less pleasant to me than the retro touch of the HLP format. Anyway, enough said.

BTW, the tool I use now creates a pretty good Web Help (HTML) as well. With index and even a fine working search!

[serendipity]

BTW, the tool I use now creates a pretty good Web Help (HTML) as well. With index and even a fine working search!

Oh nice! Do you mind making this available in the lounge?

[admin]

BTW, the tool I use now creates a pretty good Web Help (HTML) as well. With index and even a fine working search!

Oh nice! Do you mind making this available in the lounge?

Sure, I will make it available once I'm through with fixes.

I can also output a format called "e-book" (it's an EXE), PDF with TOC (graham will gain some free time again ), and, tata, classic Win HLP!

[Stefan]

BTW, the tool I use now creates a pretty good Web Help (HTML) as well. With index and even a fine working search!

Oh nice! Do you mind making this available in the lounge?

Sure, I will make it available once I'm through with fixes.
[...]

But not in the restricted lounge?!? Better make it free accessible, not?
I use to take a look at the online help before i consider to dl an tool
to see what i will get,... maybe others too?

[admin]

BTW, the tool I use now creates a pretty good Web Help (HTML) as well. With index and even a fine working search!

Oh nice! Do you mind making this available in the lounge?

Sure, I will make it available once I'm through with fixes.
[...]

But not in the restricted lounge?!? Better make it free accessible, not?
I use to take a look at the online help before i consider to dl an tool
to see what i will get,... maybe others too?

Yes, I probably will also take the PDF help back to the "public domain".

[j_c_hallgren]

Yes, I probably will also take the PDF help back to the "public domain".

Given the variety of formats that you will be able to have after this, have you thought of just having one of those "public" as Stephan suggests but keeping the rest "private"? So that potential users can peek around but not have everything?

[admin]

Yes, I probably will also take the PDF help back to the "public domain".

Given the variety of formats that you will be able to have after this, have you thought of just having one of those "public" as Stephan suggests but keeping the rest "private"? So that potential users can peek around but not have everything?

I'd rather think the Help should be free for all. As a GUI-designer my goal is to make help as unnecessary as possible, so it would be counter-intentional to upvalue help by making it harder to get.

[admin]

State of affairs
The current version of my new Help software declared is too buggy to use, so I have to wait for the next release which is planned for October or November '09.

[PeterH]

I'd rather think the Help should be free for all. As a GUI-designer my goal is to make help as unnecessary as possible, so it would be counter-intentional to upvalue help by making it harder to get.

Very good!
Both making help as unneccessary as possible and nevertheless showing help for all!

[j_c_hallgren]

Also, according to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607 there won't be a stand-alone download of WinHlp32.exe until Windows 7 goes public and that's in over 2 month's time!

Seems that as of Oct 14, M$ did create one -- see link via story at
http://lifehacker.com/5383961/install-w ... -windows-7

[zer0]

Seems that as of Oct 14, M$ did create one -- see link via story at
http://lifehacker.com/5383961/install-w ... -windows-7

Great find JC! Installed and working nicely, with the "Find" tab back in action However, still looking forward to CHM format in the near future.