It is far beyond the scope of this FAQ to teach people how to build WinHelp .HLP files. However, there is a bit of documentation out there on creating them.
For WinHelp 4.0, the Help Authoring Guide is included with the help compiler and Help Workshop (a project editor and interface to the WinHelp 4.0 compiler). The Help Authoring Guide doubles as the help file for the Help Workshop, and contains all the information you need for creating help projects and authoring topics. The basic WinHelp 4.0 tools and Authoring Guide are available for free from the Microsoft Software Library at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/hcwsetup.exe.
These three files are for authoring WinHelp 3.1. What.zip has WinHelp Authoring Templates for WinHelp using Word 2.0/6.0. Hag.zip and Whag.zip are the WinHelp 3.1 authoring guides. The information is essentially the same as that available in Hcw.hlp, but it is limited to the earlier version of WinHelp. Whag.zip contains the Word for Windows .DOC version and Hag.zip contains a .HLP file version of the WinHelp 3.1 Authoring Guide. These were originally put together by Microsoft, but have been updated and modified by others (e.g., there is a HLP file version developed and extended using a tool called HDK).
The Microsoft Developer's Network CD, besides having the Windows Help Authoring Guide, also has a great knowledge base with information about WinHelp and creating WinHelp files. For the WHAG, look under Unsupported Tools.
On the internet, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com are good sources for finding books. Search on the keyword WinHelp or "Windows Help" to get a current listing. If a book is listed as out of print or hard to find, try contacting the author(s) directly. Many of them sell the book from their own web sites. You can also try the book list at www.sageline.com, which maintains a list of books of interest to Help Authors in general. Titles that I know of at this time are listed below.
by Nancy Hickman (List: $39.95)
Bk&Disk Edition
Paperback
Published by M & T Books
Publication date: August 1, 1996
Dimensions (in inches): 9.28 x 7.21 x .97
ISBN: 1558514775
by Keith E Bugg (List: $29.95)
Bk&Disk Edition
Paperback
Published by R & D Pubns
Publication date: December 1995
ISBN: 0879304391
by Trevor Jenkins (List: $39.95)
Bk&Disk Edition
Paperback
Published by M & T Books
Publication date: April 1995
ISBN: 1558514066
by Rose Mary Alciere (List: $15.95)
Bk&Disk Edition
Paperback, 134 pages
Published by Wordware Publishing
Publication date: May 1995
Dimensions (in inches): 8.97 x 5.99 x .52
ISBN: 1556224486
by Mary Deaton, Cheryl Lockett-Zubak and others
Paperback, 684 pages
Published by Que Education & Training
Publication date: December 1, 1995
Dimensions (in inches): 9.11 x 7.30 x 1.89
ISBN: 0789703629
This book is available from Mary Deaton's web site at www.kware.com.
by Michael Patten
Published by AP Professional
Publication date: November 1995
ISBN: 0125471408
Published by SAMS, written by Scott Boggan, David Farkas, and Joe Welinske. This book, besides explaining how to generate WinHelp files, also goes into great detail about how to make your help files look good. This book is good for beginners and intermediate help writers. It does not cover advanced features such as writing DLLs for WinHelp. The updated version for Windows 95 may be more useful.
{{ Publication date: September 1993
{{ This book is no longer in print. You can obtain copies directly from
{{ Joe Welinske, however. To get copies, send e-mail to:
{{ 71640.3260@compuserve.com, or check the
WinWriters web site.
{{
by Scott Boggan, David Farkas, Joe Welinske (List: $49.99)
Bk&Cd-Rom Edition
Paperback
Published by Intl Thomson Computer Pr (Trd Disc)
Publication date: March 1, 1996
Dimensions (in inches): 9.17 x 7.37 x .96
ISBN: 1850322112
by Debbie Wilimek/Blue Sky Software (List: $24.95)
Paperback
Published by Blue Sky Software Corp
Publication date: November 1, 1995
Dimensions (in inches): 8.21 x 6.71 x .94
ISBN: 0964723611
by Microsoft (List: $49.95)
Bk&Cd-Rom Edition
Paperback, 328 pages
Published by Microsoft Press
Publication date: December 1, 1995
Dimensions (in inches): 8.98 x 7.40 x .89
ISBN: 1556158920
Published by Wiley, written by Jim Mischel (www.mischel.com). This book covers everything from how to create help files from scratch to a description of commercial authoring tools, to undocumented macros. The second half of the book is devoted to programming for WinHelp. This book is a must for the intermediate to advanced help author and an absolute necessity for WinHelp DLL programmers. Make sure you get the "with disk" version.
by Jim Mischel, Jeff Duntemann (List: $49.95)
Paperback, 383 pages
Published by John Wiley & Sons
Publication date: August 1, 1994
Dimensions (in inches): 9.25 x 7.53 x 1.03
ISBN: 0-471-30326-7 (with disk); 0-471-30325-9 (without disk)
by Stephen Pruitt (out of print)
Published by Sybex
Publication date: July 1995
ISBN: 0782117074
A book about authoring in a hypertext environment in general, considered by many to be a classic. A worthwhile read for anyone working with WinHelp or other online information systems.
by William K. Horton
2nd Edition
Paperback, 464 pages
Published by John Wiley & Sons
Publication date: October 1994
ISBN: 0471306355
While this is not strictly speaking a WinHelp book, it contains useful information for help authors.
by Microsoft (List: $24.95)
Bk&Disk Edition
Paperback, 292 pages
Published by Microsoft Press
Publication date: October 1995
ISBN: 1556159390
A quarterly electronic newsletter published by the STC Online Information SIG, and freely available from their web site at www.stc.org/society/pics/online /hyperviews/. This FAQ will also be maintained at this site.
This magazine is not strictly for WinHelp, but often features articles of interest to help authors. For example, the Dec. 97/Jan. 98 issue included the following articles:
"HTML Help: Win98's Engine Transplant" by Jim Mischel
"WinHelp Extension Tabs" by Andrew Brundell (covers creation of custom tabs for the Help Topics dialog)
Critiques of Help Magician Pro 95, V4.0 by Jim Mischel and HelpBreeze 2.0 by Gary Warren King.
(Note: Also check back issues of VB Tech Journal, Windows Tech Journal, and Software Development Magazine for reviews and other articles. Dana Cline has written several articles appearing in these magazines).
Published by WinWriters (www.winwriters.com), this is a quarterly publication dedicated to WinHelp. It includes discussions of trends, previews of upcoming technology, and numerous tricks and tips for online information developers. Available by subscription from WinWriters (US$139 annually; four issues). Contact WinWriters for more information.
There are now organizations offering courses and sponsoring conferences for WinHelp authors. This is not an exhaustive list; if you've been left off, please email me so I can include your site. Listing here is not an endorsement of the site or organization.
The STC (www.stg.org) is a professional organization for people working in the field of technical communication. The STC sponsors conferences at the regional, national, and international level. Local STC Chapters often have Online Information SIGs (Special Interest Groups). Most SIGs hold meetings (open to members and non-members) where you can discuss help authoring, see demonstrations and hear about case studies. The US STC web site (stc.org) lists contact information for chapters throughout the country.
Help University sponsors conferences and provides training for online information developers. For more information, visit their web site (www.helpuniversity.com).
Phone: 1-800-801-HELP
FAX: 214-902-9049
E-mail: info@helpuniversity.com
WinWriters sponsors conferences and provides training for online information developers. WinWriters annual conference (February in Seattle, WA) is the oldest and largest conference for WinHelp developers. For more information, visit their web site (www.winwriters.com).
WinWriters
3415 Soundview Dr. W
Seattle, WA 98199
Voice: 800-838-8999 (U.S./Canada)
206-285-2605
Fax: 206-216-0322.
Internet: mail@winwriters.com
Solutions sponsors conferences and provides training classes for online information developers. Solutions For more information, visit their web site (www.sol-sems.com).
SOLUTIONS, Inc.
274 Main Street
Reading, MA 01867 USA
+1 800.448.4230 (USA and Canada)
+1 617.942.1610
Fax: +1 617.942.1616
Email: solutions@sol-sems.com or 71554,536
(CompuServe)
America Online: solsems