Creating Help Files For Windows

Help File Creation Made Easy

RTF2HLP^©

RTF2HLP is a freeware tool that converts Microsoft’s^® Word RTF document to a Windows Help file.

The main advantage of RTF2HLP is that it converts documents without the need of any extra project files.

Writing a help file is simple as this:

1. Write your document using Microsoft® Word.
2. Save it to RTF.
3. Compile it to HLP using RTF2HLP.
   This also works for almost any existing document.

RTF2HLP requires that you install Microsoft^® Help Workshop, which can be freely downloaded at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/hcwsetup.EXE (~1.6 MB).

RTF2HLP: Current version is 1.0.

Download RTF2HLP 1.0 now (ZIP file). If that server is busy, try ours: Download RTF2HLP

See the Installation chapter for more information.

Installation:

RTF2HLP does not require any special installation. Just UNZIP the contents of the ZIP file to any directory and run RTF2HLP.EXE via a shortcut.

Upon first execution of RTF2HLP you will have to setup the location of the “Microsoft® Help Compiler” (HCW.EXE). To do this select the menu Setup->Configure and specify the correct location where you’ve installed it.

To compile your RTF document, just drag and drop it to the RTF2HLP main window. You’ll get a fully functional HLP file within a few seconds in the same directory as your RTF file. Please read the online help file RTF2HLP.HLP for more information.

ZIP File Contents:

Filename	Description
RTF2HLP.EXE	The main executable file. Just run it without any installation.
RTF2HLP.HLP	The online help file.
TEST.RTF	A sample help file written with Word 2000. Drag and drop it to RTF2HLP’s main window.

Main RTF2HLP Topics

What is RTF2HLP? If you have ever tried to generate a Windows Help file, you’ve probably asked yourself:

Why does it have to be so complicated to generate a Windows Help File?

Having experienced this many times, it always comes back to the same problems:

Option 1: Work directly with Microsoft’s^® Help Compiler.

• There are many files to work with (RTF, HPJ, CNT, bitmaps etc.).
• Why all those unnecessary options, limitations and specific document formats?

Option 2: Buy one of those Word add-ons that do the job.

• They are expensive.
• They require time to learn.
• They are slow.

This is where RTF2HLP comes in. It was developed to make the generation of a help file a simple one-button-click process. RTF2HLP is a tool that converts directly a Microsoft® Word RTF document to a Windows Help file. The main advantage of RTF2HLP is that it converts documents without the need of any extra project files.

Writing a help file is simple as this:

1. Write your document using Microsoft® Word.
2. Save it to RTF.
3. Compile it to HLP using RTF2HLP.
   This also works for almost any existing document.

RTF2HLP’s simple use makes it best suited to generate simple help files (one file, with no specific macros or options). It however corresponds to the need for most user manuals.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of RTF2HLP?

Advantages:

• It is simple to use. Just drag and drop your RTF file to RTF2HLP and the job is done (no fuss of editing HPJ, CNT, RTF files etc.)
• Requires no installation. Just run RTF2HLP.EXE and you are ready for your first help project.
• Compiles almost any Word document as long as it is stored as an RTF file.
• Does not need any fussy Word macros.
• Does not need any special Word template file.
• Uses standard Word fields to store special information (links, bookmarks, graphics, etc.)
• Doesn’t require any extra project files. All your help project is stored your RTF document.
• And last but not least: IT’S FREE!

Disadvantages:

• Doesn’t support all the features of Microsoft’s Help Compiler. See Application Limits for more information.
• Some conversion options cannot de-parameterized.

System Requirements: (minimum)

• Microsoft® Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0/2000 or later.
• 8MB of memory
• 5MB of hard-disk space
• Microsoft® Word 95, 97, 2000 or later.
• Microsoft® Help Workshop V4.0 or later. This package is can freely be downloaded from Microsoft’s (See above)

Application Limitations:

• Does not support popup helps.
• The contents file is not automatically generated.
• Tables cannot have borders.
• Background colors are not supported.
• Floating graphics are not supported

RTF2HLP is a copyrighted product of Ariacom SARL and its use is subject to the terms of the License Agreement. © 2000 Ariacom SARL, Geneva, Switzerland.