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Subject:Re: TECHWR-L Digest - 24 Feb 1998 to 25 Feb 1998 From:Krista Osborne <osborne -at- QUADRALAY -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:00:03 -0600
Please don't view this as an intrusion, I just thought that I might be able
to make the job a little easier for those witers needing to convert
FrameMaker into multiple on-line formats, including HTML, WinHelp, HTML
Help, and XML.
Quadralay introduced Version 4.0 of its WebWorks Publisher Internet
document publishing system for Windows- and UNIX-based platforms at the
WinWriters Online Help Conference on February 9, 1998. Version 4.0
incorporates expanded support for emerging non-HTML on-line formats,
enhanced ease-of-use features, a new intelligent project wizard, and
improved handling of file attributes and hypertext markers.
We expect to release the public beta for Windows on Monday, March 2, 1998.
The beta for the UNIX version will be available about a week later. The
beta will be downloadable from our web site.
Best Regards,
Krista Osborne
Quadralay Corporation
Sales Manager
>Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 16:03:48 -0600
>From: Kim Wallace <kwallac -at- ECT -dot- ENRON -dot- COM>
>Subject: Robohelp vs. Doc-to-Help
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
>Techwhirlers:
>
>The shop I'm working in is evaluating whether we should use Doc-to-Help
>(the currently used software) or move to Robohelp. I'd appreciate hearing
>your thoughts on these packages. Which did you find easier to use (and
>why)? How much time did it take you to learn it? How long to final product?
>Can you take a project written in one and use it in the other app? Tips and
>bug alerts also warmly appreciated. Thanks!
>
>BTW we are authoring all documentation in FrameMaker, so a conversion to
>Word will be required.
>Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 17:05:45 -0600
>From: "Bergen, Jane" <janeb -at- ANSWERSOFT -dot- COM>
>Subject: Re: Why not just use Frame? (Was RE: Robohelp vs. Doc-to-Help)
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>On Wednesday, February 25, 1998 4:13 PM, Alexia Prendergast
>[SMTP:alexiap -at- SEAGATESOFTWARE -dot- COM] wrote:
>> Why don't you just author WinHelp directly in Frame?
>>
>> You can convert Frame directly to WinHelp-compatible RTF using the
>> MIF2RTF tool from Omni Systems (meaning no clean-up in Word -- in fact
>> you don't even need Word for this), then create/compile your Help
>> project file in HCW (available for free from Microsoft). You can do
>
>One reason most people don't use it is the price...$295!!! That's pretty
>stiff for such a limited use. And I've never seen an acceptable online
>help file yet that was simply compiled from an rtf doc. You can, of
>course, do some tweaking but that takes a stiff learning curve if you've
>never done it before, not to mention lots of time. It's a little like
>building a covered wagon to go across country when an affordable auto is
>sitting in your driveway. Some people enjoy the challenge, I suppose.
>
>If you're like most of us, though, you are going to need Word with a
>help authoring tool (Robo-Help or Doc-to-Help) or a Wordless help
>authoring tool such as Forehelp, etc. As for the difference between RH
>and D2H, it's really a matter of personal preference. They are both
>excellent tools and both offer (unless changed recently) a money-back
>policy if you decide you don't like the program. I used D2H for a couple
>of years, then switched to RH (my personal preference) about two years
>ago. And for a little over a year, when I first started, I DID create
>RTF files from TXT files and compiled them to get WinHelp. It's a lot of
>unnecessary work.
>
>Jane
>Jane Bergen, Technical Writer,
>AnswerSoft, Inc. Richardson, TX
>(972) 997-8355
>janeb -at- answersoft -dot- com
