Help Writer's Assistant for Windows (fwd)

["Jay R. Cook" <cookjr -at- SNCAC -dot- SNC -dot- EDU>]

Techwriters,

Some time ago, we discussed different ways to create on-line help.  I'm
forwarding this announcement since it appears useful for creating Windows
help files.  I've not used the product and am in no way affiliated with the
company.

-- Jay Cook
   St. Norbert College

According to Dennis Turner:
> From @PSUVM.PSU.EDU:owner-winhlp-l -at- ADMIN -dot- HUMBERC -dot- ON -dot- CA Sat Jun  4 02:43:25
 1994
> Message-Id: <9406040743 -dot- AA20077 -at- sncac -dot- snc -dot- edu>
> Date:         Fri, 3 Jun 1994 14:39:00 +0300
> Reply-To: "Windows Help Compiler (WINHELP) Discussion List"
 <WINHLP-L%HUMBER -dot- BITNET -at- PSUVM -dot- PSU -dot- EDU>
> Sender: "Windows Help Compiler (WINHELP) Discussion List"
 <WINHLP-L%HUMBER -dot- BITNET -at- PSUVM -dot- PSU -dot- EDU>
> From: Dennis Turner <TABITHA%HUJIVMS -dot- BITNET -at- PSUVM -dot- PSU -dot- EDU>
> Subject:      Help Writer's Assistant for Windows
> X-To:         winhlp-l -at- humber -dot- bitnet
> To: Multiple recipients of list WINHLP-L
 <WINHLP-L%HUMBER -dot- BITNET -at- PSUVM -dot- PSU -dot- EDU>

> Dear Helpers,

> I am forwarding this announcement on behalf of Olson Software.



> Help Writer's Assistant for Windows is a visual help authoring package
> with features only normally seen in expensive products - at a price that
> you can afford.  Help Writer's Assistant for Windows is a WYSIWYG help
> development environment.  HWA/w works the way you do, not forcing you
> to change the way you work.

> Previously, building help files under Windows had to be done either
> by coding RTF commands by hand, or by using a word processor that
> understood RTF.  There were problems with this.  You had to remember
> the context string of the help topic you wanted to link to, and you
> had to enter footnotes.  At the best of times, it was a pain!
> Word Processor macros helped make the task easier, but they didn't
> provide everything you needed. Help Writer's Assistant for Windows (HWA/w)
> does that and helps to make Windows help authoring visual and exciting!
> This saves a considerable amount of time when developing help files.

> This version is available as a public beta by request of many people.

> HWA/w has a wide variety of uses:
>   To help a user use a program (a traditional help file)
>   To teach a user to use a program (a tutorial)
>   To teach a user about anything by using hypergraphic jumps (that is files
>   created with the Hotspot editor) and hypertext jumps.
>   To store commonly used information like in a database (such as company
>   policies)
> Training about programs or about anything can be made easier by using
> help files.

> System requirements:
>   MS-DOS operating system version 3.1 or later
>   Any of the following (must be acquired separately):
>   Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 or later
>   Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 or later
>   Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1 or later
>   Personal computer using a 386 or higher processor
>   2Mb of Memory (4Mb or greater recommended)
>   2Mb of Hard disk space
>   A 3.5" or 5.25" disk drive
>   EGA or higher resolution monitor compatible with Microsoft Windows 3.1
>   or later.
>   Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device recommended

> HWA for Windows has many powerful and useful features:
> Topic Management
>   Drag & Drop topic management through hierarchical topic tree (topic
>   listbox).
>   Properties window for editing all topic properties.
>   Support for all help topic properties, including: titles, entry macros,
>   comments, keywords, multichar keywords and more!
>   Topics can be easily moved around through dialogs.
> Ease of use interface
>   Right mouse button displays context-sensitive menus.
>   Toolbars above editors and topic listbox as well as a general toolbar.
>   Toolbar buttons to move to previous/next, first/last topics.
>   Links listbox which lists the topics that the current topic links to -
>   making it easy to change to those topics.
>   Preference information (Help compiler, Hierarchical view, Auto Browse
>   Sequences etc...) can be made default for all new projects but can be
>   changed for each specific project.
>   List of the 4 most recently used files is easily accessible from the file
>   menu.
>   Goto dialog has the same look and feel as all dialogs dealing with
>   topics (e.g: link and move dialogs).  All use the same hierarchical
>   topic tree used in the main window - decreasing learning time.
> Visual editor
>   The visual editor is used for editing the text of topics.  It allows
>   multiple fonts, colors, styles, justification, indentation and line
>   spacing.  No need to know anything about RTF!
>   Visual editor displays links just has they look under the help system.
>   Editors for both scrolling and non-scrolling regions.
>   A ruler for easy placing of tabs.
>   Optional displaying of paragraph marks.
>   Different default fonts, sizes and styles for both the scrolling and non-
>   scrolling regions.
>   Can view hidden text associated with topics - for power
>   users.
>   Click on a link while holding down the Control key to go to that topic.
> Time Savers
>   One click duplicating of topic title in Non-Scrolling region.
>   Keyword Sets which make it possible to use commonly used sets of
>   keywords simply by selecting them from a list.
>   List keywords, build tags or multichar keywords for comparing and
>   editing.
>   Auto browse sequences - forget completely about your browse
>   sequences!  There are two levels of control.  Auto Numbering where
>   you provide the characters and using a topic hierarchy can forget
>   completely about browse sequences!
>   Can create indented contents lists of child topics of any topic in the
>   file.
>   Can create a jump or pop-up link using the title of the topic being
>   linked to as link text (hotspot text).
>   Can create a new topic while linking.
>   Use selected text for title of a new topic when creating a new topic
>   while linking.
>   Stores the last topic used so you can go back to it.
>   Preview of topics while linking, or from the goto/move dialogs.
>   Can insert RTF or ASCII text file into scrolling or non-scrolling region.
>   Choose macros easily and visually from a dialog.  Enter parameters
>   from easy to use edit controls.
>   Simply choose your pictures from a dialog.  Supported types:
>   Windows metafiles, bitmaps, segmented hypergraphics, multi-
>   resolution bitmaps.
>   Dialogs to visually choose the topic to link to.
>   The same dialogs used to create links are used to edit links.
>   Fast removal of links.
>   Find & replace across all topic text in a file.
>   One click bullet creation.
> Basic Usage Learning
>   Full, context sensitive online help
>   Includes a full tutorial to learn how to develop windows help files the
>   easy way with HWA/w
> Compling
>   Reads & Writes in Rich Text Format providing maximum compatibility
>   with the Windows Help compiler.
>   Windows Help compiler and hotspot editor included in disk based
>   version
>   Build and display the help file from within the HWA/w environment.
>   Can create a header files for context sensitive help. (for C/C++,
>   Pascal and Visual Basic).

> The product is priced at just $85NZ ($50US) per copy.
> ($20NZ ($12US) should be added if you want the product
> and some other useful tools delivered via snail mail
> on disk)

> An evaluation version (which allows up to 20 topics and is
> the same as the registered version is all other aspects!) is
> available on ftp.cica.indiana.edu as HWAB40_1.ZIP and
> HWAB40_2.ZIP.  The files are currently in the uploads
> directory but will moved to the util directory in due course.

> To contact Olson Software or to order HWA/w fax +64 6 355 2775
> or email stefan -at- olson -dot- acme -dot- gen -dot- nz -dot-   Visa and Mastercard accepted.

> --
> -----------------------------------------------------
> hwa-supp -at- olson -dot- acme -dot- gen -dot- nz         Olson Software
> HWA for Windows                    4 Anaru Place
> Technical Support                  Palmerston North
>                                    New Zealand
> -----------------------------------------------------