jewell@Data-IO.COM (Cal Jewell) (08/14/90)
In light of all the discussion regarding the availability and
relative merits of development tools for Win3, I'd like to expand the
discussion a little.
I'm developing Win3 help apps using the Help Compiler (HC) supplied
with the SDK. I've noticed that although HC gets the job done, it is
not the best way to get the job done.
After a limited search, it appears that there are no 3rd party tools
available to create Win3 compatible help apps. (Thus, HC is the best
game in town because is the only game in town :-(
What I am getting at is this:
Other than HC, what tools are available for designing/building
Win3 help apps?
If anybody is listening, here is a partial wish list of what I would
like to see in a Help Authoring Tool (HAT tm).
Point & shoot linking of help chunks. I should be able to link
two help chunks by simply clicking on the two different help
chunks. The HAT should take care of inserting the necessary
codes, etc. If necessary, the HAT would ask me where to put the
"hot button" for the link.
Automatic management of browse sequences. The HAT should handle
the numbering of the sequence if I decide to add/delete/move a
chunk that is part of the sequence.
Also, the HAT should be able to step me through the browse
sequence while I am in the editor. I shouldn't have to compile
the help app to see the effects of what I have just done.
Error Checking. The HAT should be able to tell me if I have any
unreachable states (help chunks you can't get to).
That's all for now, it's getting late in the day. If you really
want more, e-mail. I'm sure I could come up with some more.
Mind you, I'm not bitching about writing the help apps. Actually, I
find creating good, useful help apps a challenge. However, I am
bitching about the lack of useful tools I can use to create the help
apps.
(I'd have posted this to comp.windows.ms.bitch, but I couldn't find
that group in my .newsrc :-)
So, what about it. Are there any tools (other than HC) I can use to
build Win3 compatible helps apps?
--
Cal... "Oh, by the way, I put the entire
vacation on the Underhill's
jewell@pilchuck.Data-IO.COM American Express. Want the number?"
{uw-beaver|uunet}!pilchuck!jewell --I. M. Fletcher in _Fletch_efowler@milton.u.washington.edu (Eric Fowler) (09/01/90)
Try ToolBook....Asymetrix (206)637-1500. =Eric