Re: Which medium for docs?

[Bill Burns <BillDB -at- ILE -dot- COM>]

        John,

        I can answer a few of these questions based upon my experience.

> >1. Is there any easy way to print an entire Winhelp or HTML file with
> good
> >formatting?
>
> I think you can print the entire help contents from your help content
> window.
>
> >2. Is it true(ish) that if you can print from a word processor you
> can export to
> >Acrobat? Can I test Acrobat without buying it?
>
> Using a PostScript driver, you can print to file and convert the file
> into PDF using Acrobat Distiller. You can also use Acrobat PDF Writer.
> Depending on the relationship you have with Adobe, you might be able
> to test drive a copy (but I wouldn't count on it).
>
> >3. Why use Acrobat instead of Winhelp? Is it purely because it prints
> better &
> >can't be changed? Is it that much easier? What is so great about the
> fact that
> >the users can't access the txt themselves (supposed virtue of PDF)?
>
> PDF reproduces the document as it appears in your DTP application. If
> you have cross references and an autogenerated TOC and index, Acrobat
> can generate hypertext links within the PDF version. I've also found a
> tool (Ambia Compose at www.ambia.com) that will generate TOCs and
> indexes in PDFs, in addition to allowing cutting and pasting of
> Acrobat hypertext links. You can add security restrictions to
> documents, so if you have document control considerations (for ISO or
> other reasons), you can prevent people from printing, copying, etc.
> PDFs can also be very helpful for distributing e-copies for review
> without handing out copies of your source files.
>
> >4. Is there an easy way to go from Frame to Winhelp, other than via
> RTF to Word?
>
> I don't know, but I DO know of a filter that works better than Frame's
> native RTF filter. Check out Omni Systems' DCL MIFTORTF filter. The
> RTF is ready to compile into WinHelp, and it preserves all of Frame's
> linking. However, I don't recommend this as a method for going online
> with your manual. It would be a good way to reuse common information,
> but I don't think it's the best online solution. If you're interested
> in the filter, you can check out the company's site at
> http://www.omsys.com/.
>
> >5. Do people really still like paper? Personally I like using online,
> but as I
> >have no choice, maybe I'm making a virtue of a necessity.
>
> As Conrad Gottfredson says, "If you move your documents online, they
> will print." Sometimes, online use is simply not practical.
>
> As far as choosing between PDF and HTML, you've listed some of the
> strengths and weaknesses. If you port your Frame documents to HTML,
> make sure you keep in mind the limited formatting options in HTML.
> Side headings, run-in headings, columns and other layout features will
> create some challenges. You can make the process much smoother if you
> design simply rather than design your Frame source without any
> consideration of the mapping necessary to port it to HTML.
>
> There are other options (including numerous SGML solutions), but I
> couldn't speak with any authority on those tools.
>
>       Bill Burns
>       Technical Writer
>       ILE Communications Group
>       billdb -at- ile -dot- com
>

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