Write once, HELP many! Now with character format control!

September 5, 1993 -- HLPDK is a shareware hyper-text help database
development kit, distributed by ISoft D&M, that includes two royalty free
help engines and a help compiler with a built in cross reference tool.
HLPDK supports the creation of help files for many target formats from one
help source. Supported targets are: 

* Windows 3.0/3.1 winHelp .HPJ/.RTF 
* THELP 3.0 .HL (HL 6.0 & 6.10). 
* QuickHelp 1.83 .SRC (HELPMAKE). 
* POPHELP.TXT (MAKEHELP)
* OS/2 .IPF (IPFC) 
* DESQview/X .HLP (MDVXHELP) 
* TVHC 1.1 .TXT (TVHC). 
* Native (Paradox 4.x & text). 
* Native (Memory HDX & text).
* Word Processors (via RTF)
* Text Documents with automatic table of contents, glossary 
  and index.

Version 9.0 adds support for automatic group menu generation, improved
character format control (font, size etc ..) and more.

Developing help text is an important but often neglected part of
application development. Developers often run out of time and/or money
long before they even start it. Not a easy task to begin with (it requires
skills in both application design and technical writing), today's help
systems also require programming expertise and a good measure of time. As
a result, many applications have inadequate help systems that do not
really fulfill their objective - help the user. The problem is even more
complex when an application has more than one target environment, each one
using different formats and programming techniques to generate help text.

HLPDK cannot solve all the problems involved in help text generation, but
it helps a lot. It allows you to write one help text source and compile it
to many different targets. Take existing texts (user manuals, technical
notes, etc.), add simple help commands, compile them and you have a
complete help system with hot-links, indexes and directories !

You can download HLPDK from your favorite BBS or get the registered version
directly from ISoft D&M (PO Box 5517, Coralville, IA 52241, Compuserve:
76350,333). Registration fee is $50. Help Engine sources can be obtained
for an additional fee.

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