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When you are writing the help file, you can use .bmp .jpg .gif .png and .shg format files, and on compilation, these are automatically converted to ‘.2bp’ files for you. (I suggest you restrict yourself on colours if possible, as large graphic files can take a while to load on the PPC.)
All the images in this review (and my help files) are captured using the excellent Snagit (http://www.techsmith.com/products/snagit/default.asp)
Simply continue on, adding topics and creating your deathless prose. Then click on the ‘compile’ icon, and choose your target.
As noted earlier, you have several options, but we are interested in the Pocket PC. After discussions with the developers, they added a ‘Link to Contents’ and ‘Link to Index’ option for each screen. When you have compiled, you can seen your resulting file in the browser.
Fast-Help produces an HTML file, a ‘link’ file, and converts all your images automatically to ‘.2bp’ files.
Notice the Contents/Index at the bottom of the screen. All the files are created in a ‘PocketPC’ sub-folder of the project. Transfer the html file, link file and images to the windows folder on your PPC, and you can look at it using PIE. In code you can launch context sensitive help from your own program, similar to
OpenNETCF.Diagnostics.Process.Start("\Windows\PegHelp.exe", "Devbuzz.htm#MainMenu")
Conclusion
As we are all writing apps for ‘remote’ workers, I think help files play a vital part in the support role. Fast-Help allows us to produce a professional help file AND a PDF manual FROM THE SAME SOURCE.
As a developer, I can’t praise this Fast-Help enough. The product does exactly what it says on the tin, and the support is excellent (this applies to being a customer and a beta-tester). The price for a single developer is US$299, but you will soon re-coup this in time saved.
Editor's Note:
Pete went to bat for the DEVBUZZ readers and managed to organize a 10% discount for us!
Just quote "GU111204" in the notes section when ordering from Fast-Help and you will qualify for a 10% discount!
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