General question about implementing help systems in Winforms proje

[Guest]

I've just been assigned a new WinForms project (VB, Dot Net 2.0). The
manager is very insistant that the project include detailed help.
Furthermore she would prefer that the help content itself be easily
maintainable by non-programmers.

My personal experience developing help is roughtly zero. I could probably
hack something together using the HTML Help tool kit but I don't think that
will satisfy anyone. (and I'd like to get some feedback from the community
first.)

Any strong opinions out there?

 

[Phil Wilson]

The general standard is to build .chm files (hlp doesn't work on Vista).
There are 3rd parties who have some value-add products in this are, like:
http://www.helpdevelopmentstudio.com/

 

[Guest]

A chm is generally the way I need to go. Actually I've found a freeware tool
called HelpNDoc that seems to do enough to meet our needs. Of course I'm
still experimenting with it.

The general standard is to build .chm files (hlp doesn't work on Vista).
There are 3rd parties who have some value-add products in this are, like:
http://www.helpdevelopmentstudio.com/
--
Phil Wilson
[MVP Windows Installer]

I've just been assigned a new WinForms project (VB, Dot Net 2.0). The
manager is very insistant that the project include detailed help.
Furthermore she would prefer that the help content itself be easily
maintainable by non-programmers.

My personal experience developing help is roughtly zero. I could probably
hack something together using the HTML Help tool kit but I don't think
that
will satisfy anyone. (and I'd like to get some feedback from the community
first.)

Any strong opinions out there?

 

[AlexS]

So what is manager suggesting?

Proper help by itself is pretty heavy project for above average
applications. Management of the content by non-programmers is quite an
requirement. I believe none of tools deliver that level of service. Probably
you need to look at something like wiki site - it seems like she has that in
mind.

Does she really understand what she wants?

 

[Guest]

I hadn't thought about using a Wiki site, although I am not absolutely sure
how I would go about using a website as program help. Isn't HelpProvider
only for CHMs?

As for your other question (Does she really understand what she wants?), you
ask her. I'm trying to keep my job.