TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Web-based Help without a HAT (cross-posted to HATT)
Subject:Web-based Help without a HAT (cross-posted to HATT) From:Sue Krol <s -dot- krol -at- xpedite -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 12 Oct 2000 15:58:55 -0400
I've created my HTML pages in Homesite. We've got context-sensitive links from our Web app to my help pages. I can use HTML Indexer--which seems like a good tool so far--to create a good back-of-the-book-type index.
Does anyone have suggestions for creating and maintaining a TOC? It's currently just a table of links which I'd thought I'd make into a frame that persists while the associated pages display in a frame to its right. Any thoughts at all on building/automating/maintaining a TOC without using a HAT? Anyone know of any Java code that I might use for this purpose? I'm not a programmer, but can get some dev help here if needed to make it work.
Ben Weisner seems to have some workable methods, but I can't wait for his course in Dec. I have to keep in mind our Netscape and IE users, and develop for PC, UNIX and Mac advocates. Our developers say to avoid DHTML. Your suggestions on creating Web-based help without a HAT would be greatly welcomed.
PS
Has anyone used the PC versions of Adobe GoLive or Macromedia Dreamweaver for help system creation/maintenance? To what extent were you satisfied/disappointed with either tool?
