It's Not Just Help. . .
So How Does It Work?
HTML Topics & Templates
CSS
DHTML
Project File (.hhp)
Contents File (.hhc)
Merging Modular Files
Accelerating Links
Distribution & Installation
HTML Help Resources on the Web
Downloadable Demos
of HTML Tools
With the current range of available HTML editors, you should be able to find one (or more) to meet almost any set of requirements. You’re still almost guaranteed to do some hands-on editing in the Windows Notepad or in the HTML Help Editor itself.
Serious developer types may want to use Microsoft’s Visual InterDev, but that’s overkill for most HTML Help authors. If you already have an HTML editor you love, that’s probably what you should use. If you’re looking for new tools, check out the many downloadable demos available on the Web to find what’s right for you.
| Application & Manufacturer | Demo/ Download URL |
Comments |
| HoTMetaL Pro® from SoftQuad |
www.hotmetalpro. com | Overall HTML editing, with site management tools, CSS editor, & a few DHTML scripts |
| HomeSite® from Allaire |
www.allaire.com
or commerce.allaire. com /download/ |
For overall HTML editing;integrates well with Dreamweaver and is often bundled with Dreamweaver (ask when you order; it's not always listed). |
| Dreamweaver® from Macromedia | www.macromedia.com /software/ dreamweaver |
Focused on DHTML; also a GUI-oriented HTML editor with site management tools. Even does straight HTML code! |
| ForeHTML Pro® from ForeFront |
www.ff.com/ indexDown.html |
Specifically designed for HTML Help & other online Help systems |
| Doc-to-Help 2000® | www.wextech.
com/ pr4downloadsu.htm |
Specifically designed for single-sourcing printed documents with HTML Help & other online systems |
| RoboHelp HTML® from eHelp (formerly Blue Sky Software) | www.ehelp.com/
RoboHELP/ downloads.shtm (new address; changed since book was printed) |
Designed for online Help, including HTML Help. |
| HotDog® from Sausage Software | www.sausage.com | HTML code editor, primarily focused on tags. |
| FrontPage 2000® from Microsoft | Demo must be ordered, not downloaded, from www.microsoft.com/ frontpage/ trial | Consider only FP 2000; earlier versions add proprietary code and "extensions" |
| CoffeeCup® from CoffeeCup Software | www.coffeecup.com | Primarily for CSS creation & editing |
| PaintShopPro® from JASC | www.jasc.com | De facto standard for screen captures; also inclues general graphics tools including conversions, color replacement, layers. |
| GIF Animator®, ScreenSaver Pro®, & PhotoImpact® from Ulead | www.ulead.com | Three specialized Web graphics tools to created animated GIFs, save Web graphics in small files; & create DHTML such as image rollover, respectively. |
| Recommended by Readers: | ||
| FAR from The Helpware Group |
www.helpware.net /FAR/index.html |
Reader's comment: "I started this project determined to keep a very hands-on approach ...and found that I had to work out most of the methodology for myself. FAR has been a very important part of that." |
| HyperText Studio™ from Olson Software | www.olsonsoft.com /download.htm |
Reader's comment: "WYSIWYG WinHelp, HTML and HTML Help authoring tool." |