What are you using to generate / write user Help

Robert Valentino

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I have been using Microsoft Word to write html pages that are my help system.

Microsoft has a bad habit that if you insert a PNG it converts it to a JPG and saves both (why I don't know)

I am looking for something better than a word processor to write a complete help system, but ALL the packages I have investigated are so expensive for how much I actually make on my program

Just wondering what you guys are doing for help (other than NOT doing it - My favorite option)

Thanks
 

canalrun

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I have been using Microsoft Word to write html pages that are my help system.

Just wondering what you guys are doing for help (other than NOT doing it - My favorite option)

Quite a few years ago I bought a really old copy of Dreamweaver CS6 cheap from eBay or Amazon. It does not do the latest stuff, but that is okay for what I need.

I produce an HTML file, loaded as a string into a full-page WebView parsing the HTML for minor changes in IMG directory locations and replacing strings like"*VER*" with the version number of the APK from B4A code. I can also pretty much use the same file on a webpage if I want.

Barry.
 

BillMeyer

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If you are using HTML then look at this

https://mobirise.com/

It's free, modern and easy to use and it's responsive.

I create help files using mobirise with a combination of graphics, screenshot videos and text. In the app I use a webview and display what I need in this manner.

Works really well.
 

Robert Valentino

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Just looked at Mobirise (not sure if it is really a help writer more of a webpage builder - but as long as it has Spell check and grammar check it might work)

I have been using this post https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/mlhelp-help-reader.54103/#post-387238 to show my web help pages

Have just spent the better part of a few hours downloading all these free trials (anything that costs under $200 USD).

Next week I will create a restore point and checkout some of these apps (HelpCrusier, FastHelp, HelpNDoc, HelpSmith) and see which is easiest and then do a system restore to clear all the gunk they leave behind.

Will report my findings.

Thanks for the repliese
 

agraham

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I have used https://www.helpndoc.com/ for many years, primarily to create CHM files for my Basic4ppc and its libraries but it can also, from the same text, produce HTML, Word, PDF, EPUB, MOBI and Qthelp documents.

It is free for personal use and places a discreet banner ad for itself at the end of each topic which is barely noticeable.
 

Robert Valentino

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One of them on my list.
That's good to know.
Free for personal use would let me try it out, for $110 USD it wouldn't break the bank.
 
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