Topic: Create and how to open help file in chm or pdf format.?

[MvdP]

I want to create a help file (similar to express tools or autocad ) with a short illustrated explanation of some of my routines (with help from this great forum)and i was wondering in which format to do this, in chm  or pdf format.?And the most imported thing off course is how to code this in a help button.?I did search this forum and found one thread about opening an pdf in AutoCAD but that seems to be allmost impossible because of the long directory names i have.BTW i started my help file in word.

[MP]

A couple weeks ago I started toying with HTA (HTML Application) files for interactive help. Pretty cool potential, but I don't profess to have any expertise (yet). One of my books (VBScript Programmer's Reference, Wrox Press) does discuss them, so I expect to be able to exploit them quite a bit in the months to come.

See the Technet site.

[ronjonp]

I've been using this for about 3 years and love it.....for $50 it is a steal

http://www.helpmatic.net/hmphtml.html

[Guest]

Owen uses a freebie program for his OpenDCL help documentation.  The name of the program eludes me at the moment, but if you crack open the CHM for OpenDCL I believe it says what it is at the bottom.

I downloaded it a while ago - it was pretty big - and messed around with it and it seemed to be pretty good.

[Mark]

this is the code I use to open .chm files. As for creating them Microsoft offers a free version of the compiler.

Code: [Select]

(defun dms-help (/ mt-fn)
  (if
    (findfile "dms.chm")
    (progn
      (setq mt-fn (findfile "dms.chm"))
      (startapp "hh" mt-fn)
      ); progn
    (alert "Help File Not Found...[DMS.CHM]")
    ); if
  (princ)
  ); dms-help



[Andrea]

this one is more expensive..
but very powerful.

http://www.ec-software.com/products_hm_overview.html

[KewlToyZ]

I've used versions of Front Page to make chm files without any trouble as well.
I know most people dislike Front Page.
But I always found it easy to use even with some of it's garbage code generation.
I found it simple to use when it comes to text & image formatting appearance.
chm is just a choice to save as and is a template to create from.

[sinc]

I've used versions of Front Page to make chm files without any trouble as well.
I know most people dislike Front Page.
But I always found it easy to use even with some of it's garbage code generation.
I found it simple to use when it comes to text & image formatting appearance.
chm is just a choice to save as and is a template to create from.

Really?

I've been using an old copy of FrontPage for our company website, but I've been creating help files in a time-consuming way by hand-editing HTML and CSS files...  Maybe I should try switching...   

I've actually been thinking of getting something better for doing the website, because Frontpage is rather weak...  But it's probably better than hand-editing HTML...   

[KewlToyZ]

I never could get into dreamweaver.
I always found it obtuse, but everyone has their preferences.

If I'm building an application for SQL 2K data then it is Visual Studio 2005 with the 2.0 framework and AJAX.

Other than that, I still like my Front Page 2003 

[Kerry]

HelpMaker - Help Authoring Tool

http://www.vizacc.com/
HelpMaker makes WinHelp, RTF, HTML-Help, Websites, PDF files.
It is 100% free.

[It's Alive!]

I've been using this one
http://www.ibe-software.com/products/software/helpndoc/

..I think Mark posted this a while back.. :kewl:

[Mark]

Here's the link to the free MS compiler.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=14188

more info here

[MvdP]

Almost all the replies are about creating chm is this meaning that a pdf can not be openend in AutoCAD.?

[Kerry]

Almost all the replies are about creating chm is this meaning that a pdf can not be openend in AutoCAD.?

No, they can.

[MvdP]

And how can they be opened.?