» HTML, DHTML, JS, CSS, CHM, RTF, HLP.

HTML Help has been the standard on Windows systems since Windows 98. Its strength is that it lets you make use of the flexibility of HTML and JavaScript, and can be significantly extended with ActiveX. HTML Help wraps up your content in a nice neat package with an easy to use interface that has become familiar to users. For simple Help systems it works quite well, but if you are developing a complex Help system, you can run into a number of complications. Our developers have been working with HTML Help systems for many years and have learned to work around most of its limitations.

WinHelp, introduced with Windows 3.1, is fast becoming obsolete. With the introduction of Windows Vista in 2007, WinHelp is no longer supported natively, so any application that plans to be installed on Windows Vista should not use WinHelp as its Help delivery format. However, if you need online Help for an older operating system or have a specific reason to use WinHelp, it may still be a valid choice for some situations.

Both HTML Help and WinHelp have scripting and macro languages that extend their functionality and provide a level of interactivity (and intelligence) with users. Both Help systems can also be extended with Visual Basic and MFC (C++) plug-ins to provide almost unlimited functionality.

A popular alternative to these compiled Help systems is to provide loose HTML files that are accessed through other HTML files which represent a TOC and Index. This is often generically called webhelp, although this term was actually trademarked by eHelp (the original creator of RoboHelp, which was recently purchased by Adobe). There are numerous advantages to developing this type of Help system often the main one being that it can be platform independent. This type of a Help system can be installed locally, on the user's computer, or on a web server, and accessed over the Internet or an intranet. Most of the popular Help authoring tools offer their own version of "WebHelp," which, depending on the tool can be easily customized for your needs. Depending on your needs, there can be many challenges to setting up this type of Help system and integrating it with your application.

Leximation has considerable experience in customizing and developing HTML-based Help systems, and can help to get you headed in the right direction. We also have experience in developing custom "containers" or interfaces to HTML-based Help systems, from stand-alone to embedded Help systems that are locally installed or accessed over the Internet. We can also help you to select an appropriate search tool for your Help system (or website), or can develop a custom search utility built to your specifications.

If you're looking for something really new and innovative in the area of online Help delivery, take a look at AIR Help. This is a brand new Help alternative which makes use of Adobe's AIR technology and was first developed by Leximation in June of 2007. Since that time Adobe has come out with a tool for creating AIR Help from a RoboHelp WebHelp project. You can use the RoboHelp Packager to create AIR Help files or you can create your own to address a specific user assistance need. If you're interested in learning more about this exciting option, give us a call.

Leximation can provide you with the tools to convert your content into Help. Or, we can do the conversion for you and deliver the completed Help files. Let us analyze your Help system needs and offer an appropriate solution that works in both the short and long term.