Online help vs. CHM help
-
In my project I have used CHM. Its more flexible to use CHM.
Personally I hate online help. Not saying CHM is the best ever or anything like that, but I often find online help has terrible index/contents and the search mechansims aren't always great. They seldom allow for book marking favourite pages and such either. By far the biggest problem with online help though, is having to be online to read it. I might be online most of the time these days, but I have a laptop and mobile data plans are expensive in NZ (wireless hotspost also expensive/uncommon in the areas I visit), so it's not uncommon for me to be working offline. I even had 6 months without internet a year or two ago, because the local telecommunications company 'cabinetised' the roadside equipment and messed up my internet connection. Since my ISP wasn't leagally allowed to access the equipment, and since no one really knew what had happed it took ages to get fixed, and even changing ISP's didn't help. Of course, if you're application is a web one or you have to be online to use it anyway, maybe not such a big deal. Just my 2 cents worth. I fear I'm in the minority again anyway.
-
My client asked me for a recommendation about whether his new product should use online help (hosted on his web site), or a traditional CHM help file. Obviously online help can be updated more easily, with no downloads involved. And sometimes CHM help files have to be "unblocked" before they can be viewed. Aside from these things, does anyone have any experience with online help for a product? Any problems with it?
Best wishes, Hans
Well online could be very easier than CHM. The issue is that if the network or the internet is down and the client needs to check the help, how is the client going to do it? I prefer having a local manual than a web site manual. Nothing different from having a brand new ceiling fan with a clear and simple installation manual (I just installed one in my room ;P).
-
...use it on ships with no Internet access? Most of my applications are used in areas where there is no, or very limited Internet access - either limited by bandwidth or firewalls. So, chm is still a necessity to me. Which brings up the next question - any decent apps to make chm help files? I am currently using RoboHelp but that hasn't been supported since 2004. It would be nice to find something not horribly expensive but similar in operation to RoboHelp. RoboHelp could also do online help as well, from the same source.
Don't do a great deal of this, but prefer to have a CHM. Sometimes supplement with an online version for 'updates'. Still don't think we can always assume that people will have Internet access. I use HelpNDoc http://www.helpndoc.com/store[^]- even the free (non-commercial use) version produces CHM/HTML/DOC/PDF versions of your file that look remarkably similar. The full version isn't expensive at EU$139. Always some limitations and quirks, but this works well for my limited use.
-
My client asked me for a recommendation about whether his new product should use online help (hosted on his web site), or a traditional CHM help file. Obviously online help can be updated more easily, with no downloads involved. And sometimes CHM help files have to be "unblocked" before they can be viewed. Aside from these things, does anyone have any experience with online help for a product? Any problems with it?
Best wishes, Hans