Design Vortex offers an inexpensive alternative to software companies that need their applications documented and specializes in creating and maintaining software Online Help and complete web-based Help systems. We can create help files in any format that you need for your products, as well as redesign, update and maintain your existing help files. We also conveniently offer to deliver your help files in multiple formats for easy distribution, or convert your existing help files from RTF to any other formats listed below.

Which Type Of Help Do You Need?

The type of application you want documented and its target platforms usually determine the type of Help you need.

All the Help systems listed above support the following standard features:

	Collapsible table of contents.
	Multi-level index.
	Full-text search.
	Jumps.
	Popups.
	Related topics.
	Secondary windows.

See below for more information on the different help systems we can create for you, as well as their specifications, requirements, advantages and disadvantages.

Help File Conversions

From WinHelp to Any Other Format:
We can quickly convert your existing WinHelp help files to any of the other Help systems presented on this page. All you need to do is send us the .RTF and .HPJ files for your WinHelp project and we'll do the rest!

From HTML Help to Any Other Format:
If you already have a help file in Microsoft HTML Help format, we can convert it to WinHelp, InterHelp or to a basic web-based help system. Just send us your existing compiled (.CHM) or uncompiled HTML Help files to be converted. 

From Other Formats:
We can also create new Help projects based on existing HTML, RTF or Microsoft Word documents.

Help File in Multiple Formats

If you want more flexibility or need compatibility over several operating systems, Design Vortex offers to deliver your Help file in multiple formats.

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WinHelp

Microsoft WinHelp 4 (a.k.a. WinHelp 95) is the most commonly used help system for software applications. WinHelp 3.1 supports 16-bit computers running Windows 3.1, while WinHelp 4 supports 32-bit computers running Windows 95/98, 2000, ME or XP. WinHelp includes a number of additional, user-friendly features that facilitate information access.

Compatible With: Any Windows version.

Advantages: Can be used on any Windows system, no browser or additional files required, robust and familiar system for user assistance.

Disadvantages: Windows only.

Screenshot: [click to view full size]

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HTML Help (Win 98 Help)

Also known as "Windows 98 Help," HTML Help is the newest Microsoft Help standard. It displays information in a tri-pane help window in which one pane contains the navigation controls (buttons), a second pane contains the navigation interface (index, table of contents and full-text search accessed by tabs), and the third pane contains the topics. The user can hide or display the second pane as needed. HTML Help supports the use of secondary windows for displaying a topic accessed from the table of contents, index, jump or related topics list.

Compatible With: Any Windows version with Internet Explorer 4 or later installed.

Advantages: Displays information in an easy-to-use tri-pane window, full functionality of Internet Explorer engine.

Disadvantages: Windows only, requires Internet Explorer 4 or later on the user's system.

Screenshot: [click to view full size]

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HTML-Based Help System (InterHelp)

InterHelp is a generic HTML-based Help system that can be viewed with any browser that supports Java and JavaScript, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape. Files created with InterHelp can run on any platform (including Windows, Macintosh and UNIX,) either from the user's hard disk or from a web server. InterHelp provides a similar feature set to WinHelp 4 (WinHelp 95), including jumps, popups, table of contents, index, full text-search, related topics, context-sensitive Help and windows.

Click here to view a fully functional online demo.

(Please Note: if you are on a dial-up connection, it can take 20 seconds or more to load the demo's entire frameset the first time.)

Compatible With: Any platform with a Java-enabled browser.

Advantages: Platform-independent (Windows, Mac, UNIX...), browser-independent (any Java-enabled browser,) WinHelp-like features set across multiple platforms, customizable Help window and toolbars.

Disadvantages: Multiple file installation (HTML files, graphics and runtime files.)

Screenshots: [click to view full size: image 1 - image 2]

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Our Technical Writing Experience:

Since 1994, BPS SoftWare Inc. has relied on us to create and maintain all of their software's online help files (as well as their web site.) Contact information for reference will be provided at your request.

If you have any questions at all, or would like to discuss a project with us, please feel free to contact us.

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Last updated on November 21, 2006