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Creating Windows Help files

SikarianSikarian Registered User regular
edited January 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
I just got the chance to get a real great job, the only catch is I have to be able to create Windows Help files. They are converting from a Unix system to Windows and want someone to create windows help files.


I dont know how! Google search shows that they are based on either RTF or HTML, nothing seems to be solid on that...and all of the programs out there are $100+.

I need to get this figured out by Monday so, help me PA :( Help!

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Posts

  • EggyToastEggyToast Jersey CityRegistered User regular
    edited January 2007
    Are they adamant on that? Actual Windows Help Files are being phased out in Vista, and there are a handful of ways to make help files that don't load in the Windows help viewer, but are still "help files."

    However, the older (XP and earlier) help files are an old proprietary format. There's a few freeware tools to create the HTML-format help files. RTF format is really old and it's pretty much all HTML-based nowadays (or XML, hence the phase-out for Vista).

    Look here for free and shareware, and practice on Sunday:
    http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/Help_File_Tools/popular1.html

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  • mspencermspencer PAX [ENFORCER] Council Bluffs, IARegistered User regular
    edited January 2007
    If you can find an old copy of MS Visual C++ 4.2 that comes with a tool that creates old-format .HLP files.

    mspencer on
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  • typhoontyphoon Registered User regular
    edited October 2021
    .

    typhoon on
  • mspencermspencer PAX [ENFORCER] Council Bluffs, IARegistered User regular
    edited January 2007
    .HLP files still load in Vista, right? I just want to make sure we're not confusing "Windows started using this new format for all of its own help files" with "Windows stopped being able to read this old format of help file."

    mspencer on
    MEMBER OF THE PARANOIA GM GUILD
    XBL Michael Spencer || Wii 6007 6812 1605 7315 || PSN MichaelSpencerJr || Steam Michael_Spencer || Ham NOØK
    QRZ || My last known GPS coordinates: FindU or APRS.fi (Car antenna feed line busted -- no ham radio for me X__X )
  • EggyToastEggyToast Jersey CityRegistered User regular
    edited January 2007
    mspencer wrote:
    .HLP files still load in Vista, right? I just want to make sure we're not confusing "Windows started using this new format for all of its own help files" with "Windows stopped being able to read this old format of help file."

    Windows Vista stopped being able to read .hlp files.

    Of course, they're coding in backwards compatibility and they claim it will be ready when it launches for consumers. However, support will likely fade and/or developers (the OP) will get warnings if they link to or use old .hlp files.

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  • SikarianSikarian Registered User regular
    edited January 2007
    I was fooling with the HTMLHelp workshop and got that down, thanks a bunch :) Resume is going in today so, oh man, I hope I get the job

    Sikarian on
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