User:Dskirk/HelpMaticProHTML

HelpMaticProHTML is a Windows-based help authoring tool published by HSG Software Solutions, a company based in England.

The product was originally HelpMaticPro, which just produced HLP files and the newer HTML version was developed to stay abreast of technology, allowing for CHM (compiled HTML) and webhelp (HTML) and PDF files as well. The ability to create webhelp files was a recent addition, as the earlier HTML product focused only on CHM and PDF. All outputs are created from a single source file.

A strength (or weakness, depending on your point of view) is that HelpMaticProHTML takes advantage of CSS stylesheets, allowing an author familiar with stylesheets to have significant control over the final document.

The product is for Microsoft Windows and the latest release is 6.53, which added the ability to import CHM files and regenerate new CHM and webhelp systems.

Like other help authoring tools, HelpMaticproHTML allows the writer to create a single source text which it then converts to a number of target formats. In this case, the author creates the source text using an editor built in to the HelpMaticProHTML program. Further, the program can use CSS when the author is versed in CSS. Version 6.5.3 of HelpMaticProHTML was released in November, 2008. The product currently supports the following output formats:

• PDF
• WinHelp
• Compiled HTML
• HTML Web Page
• Printed manuals

The program includes a MAP tool, spell check and a number of export and import tools to assist in developing help documentation.

Price is $69 for new licenses. This is compares favorably with other major help authoring tools (RoboHelp, Madcap Flare, AuthorIT, and Doc2Help).

• HelpMaticProHTML home page

Category:Online help Category:Technical communication tools