Win32Pad Help File

[Gena01]

I am thinking of redoing/updating Win32Pad Help file. What I have there is a bit outdated and it needs a facelift. So here is a little poll to see what's the best thing for me to do:

Never realised there was a help file   .   Don't really see a need for it - most everything is obvious (except for StayOnTop).  Otherwise I prefer CHM, though they might not be "accessible" everywhere.

[laserlight]

Well, a chm help file woul be nice, but as therube noted most of win32pad is intuitive.

[Gena01]

I have cleaned up the "Stay On Top" related stuff. It's now in the new Options menu. (v1.3)

And there is a requirement for a decent help file, the one I have with the package is a bit out of date. Also it seems like I still get the same questions asked over again. I am trying to resolve this by making some things a bit more obvious.

I am always open to comments, flames, etc...

Gena01

[laserlight]

Well, if you would like I might be able to volunteer some time to help write a new help file.

I havent tried creating a chm file myself, but the software for that is free and available online right?
Conversely, I could simply try writing it from a user's perspective then pass the material to you for editing.

[Gena01]

Quote (laserlight @ May 07 2003,21:30)

Well, if you would like I might be able to volunteer some time to help write a new help file. I havent tried creating a chm file myself, but the software for that is free and available online right? Conversely, I could simply try writing it from a user's perspective then pass the material to you for editing.

Sure, you could take a stab at it. CHM files is basically a compilation of HTML files. This would provide me with online documentation that could be posted on the site, as well as browseable/searchable documentation available offline. HTMLHelp component I think should be installable on the old WIn95 O/S. Also considering M$ support policies (regarding them dropping support for the old O/Ss). I think that the move to the new CHM format is a good step.

Gena01

[laserlight]

Well, I've finished an initial version of a win32pad chm helpfile.

I decided to stick to the format of your helpfile, but basically update it and correct inconsistencies due to different versions [?], e.g. tabsize from 2 to 8 in one mention and from 2 to 9 in another.

I've sent an email to [email protected] concerning this.

[Gena01]

I took a quick look at it yesterday, and some things that I wanted to add were:
- Images (screenshots, toolbar pictures, icons, dialogs, etc..)
- Some form of standard layout
- The help needs to reflect the latest menu structure
- I am not sure if the Options and other dialogs are documented.

I will take a look at this, I haven't looked at it that close. Did you send me the source html files, or did I miss something there?

P.S. Thanks for making my life a bit easier.

Gena01

[laserlight]

I wanted to add your litle win32pad icon, but I dont really have the image (at least not without leeching it from you )
As for screenshots, I suppose I can easily take them and add them.

The menu structure is pretty identical to win32pad 1.3.0's menu structure.
Basically I opened it both to write the html files and to follow the menu structure.

Since I virtually re-worked the info, though using the same format and keeping the same words where there were little changes, all the options/dialogs that I know of should be documented.

There were quite a few html files, and I didnt want to send all of them as an attachment, so I sent along the link to my website where I uploaded the source code.

I think I still have to work on the index though, not enough items there.

[Gena01]

Hi laserlight,

I am going to try and do a release this weekend of Win32Pad. How are you doing with that help file? I am going to look over some stuff that I have, but I don't have all the source html files to compile the CHM file myself. Have you managed to find some time and update anything from the time you sent me your last version?

P.S Thanks for helping out.

Gena01

[laserlight]

I've sent you an email with the zipped files.

There's a problem though: the pics add bloat to the help file.
I saved them in .jpg format, and they *could* be sized down by exporting to gif, but the help file will still be larger than the program itself, which is a little absurd.

EDIT:
yep.

the previous compiled version was a whopping 233 KB, now it is 160 KB...

*sigh*

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