FW: HTML Help: Use of secondary windows & usability

[Susana Rosende <SRosende -at- THEFUND -dot- COM>]

Sue, my understanding is that RoboHTML doesn't use secondary windows,
nons-crolling regions, or pop-ups. I went to a seminar where the speaker
suggested that writers NOT convert their existing RoboHELP Classic and
RoboHELP 2000 projects to HTML for that very reason. He asked us to wait for
RoboHELP Version 8 before we attempt it.

The speaker of the seminar "Moving from WinHelp to HTML Help" at the
Tech/Comm99 conference was Scott Bogan. Send email to scott -at- helpcraft -dot- com or
www.helpcraft.com.

Let us know what you do. We all have an interest in this! Good Luck!

Susana Rosende
Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund
SRosende -at- thefund -dot- com

-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Heim [mailto:Sue_Heim -at- EMAIL -dot- MSN -dot- COM]
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 1999 7:23 PM
To: WINHLP-L -at- ADMIN -dot- HUMBERC -dot- ON -dot- CA
Subject: HTML Help: Use of secondary windows & usability


** Cross-posted to WinHlp-L and RoboList **

I'm curious to find out how others are using secondary windows in HTML Help.
By secondary window I mean a single-frame window (not the tripane thing).
Are you using them to display context-sensitive help (dialog level)? Are you
using them in the TOC?

If you are using them in context-sensitive help only, have any of you done
any usability studies as to the effectiveness of displaying the help topic
with no navigation to the rest of the help file? (Besides the Help >
Contents & Index menu options).

Personally, I'm having a bit of a dilemma. I like the fact that the info
displayed is simple from a secondary. But I've also arranged my TOC so that
if F1 is hit from within a dialog, the topic is displayed autosynced into
the TOC (so they'll know in what area of functionality they are).

Any and all comments appreciated. (Well, those relating to this subject,
natch!)

...sue
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sue Heim
Sue_Heim -at- msn -dot- com


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