Tools for creating a help file

[Richard Gaskin]

Pete wrote:
> I'm trying to decide how to supply the help text for an application and
> wondering what tools people are using to creat help files.
>
> I'm finding that it is much easier to use a word processor to write the
> help text and graphics than trying to do it within the confines of LC text
> fields.  I can't leave the help text as a separate file because that would
> require the user to have the same wp program I used to create it.  I can
> create a pdf version of it to get round that but I'm wondering if there is
> some way of importing the help text into LC, retaining all the formatting
> and graphics.  Is it possible to open a pdf file and display within an LC
> application without starting a separate pdf viewer program?

I enjoy typing in LiveCode fields myself, but I'm funny that way. :)

If you like using Word you'll love Curry Kenworthy's WordLib for 
importing content from Word and OpenOffice/Libre Office into LiveCode:
<http://www.runrev.com/store/product/word-lib-1-3-0/>

He's done an amazingly thorough job of recreating every element in doc, 
docx, and odt files that can be represented in LiveCode fields.  And 
he's hard at work on a new version that takes full advantage of LC 5.5's 
new field object capabilities.

For professional devs he also offers an option to acquire limited rights 
to the source for an additional fee.   This is a must-have for myself 
and my clients, and pretty much every other pro dev who need to consider 
code base longevity, and his source fee was more than reasonable.

Curry's support has been exemplary, and his willingness to work with 
suggestions for new features and enhancements is an inspiration for all 
of us tools vendors.

--
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World
  LiveCode training and consulting: http://www.fourthworld.com
  Webzine for LiveCode developers: http://www.LiveCodeJournal.com
  LiveCode Journal blog: http://LiveCodejournal.com/blog.irv