RTF Editor for WinHelp

Edited text of question.

Although you can create help-compatible RTF files using Delphi's TRichEdit component, this component is not a fully featured RTF component. This means you won't be able to have many features there are in a std. help file in the RTF file generated by RichEdit. Such features are Topic information, topic sequence, keywords, and any other feature that relies on footnotes.

The RTF file generated by Word 97 is a fully featured RTF editor (of course!), although there are RTF tags that can only be read by MS Word and that are either ignored or cause an error in other RTF parsers (RTF is parsed, just like HTML). What might be happening is that you may have added an illegal object or illegal tag to the RTF file in Word.

An example of that is an image. You cannot insert images in RTF files that are meant to me compiled as help files the same way you do for general purpose RTFs. The error you're having is probably because you inserted an image in the RTF file using Word Paste command or Insert | Picture command or something like that.

The correct way to insert an image in an RTF file that is a help file is to use the {bml }, {bmr } or {bmc } tags.

Delete all images from the RTF file, read the Help Authoring Help (\Delphi4\Help\Tools\HCW.HLP) and then insert the image in the RTF file just like HCW.HLP taught you.

Yours,

Alex
Athena's Place: http://www.bhnet.com.br/~simonet

Thanks for your answer

but i'm sorry to reject it because there's no image in my rtf file, i use {bmc image.bmp} exactly like you say. There's a problem when my help is getting bigger and when i make to many topic and link to other topic, and i don't understand why.

thanks again.

Adeng.

Try using something like HelpScibble.

Thanks AndyJohn, where can i find that ?

Adeng.

Oh, now I see what you want! You want tools that can replace Word, but not necessarily under Delphi, right?

If so, here's my 2 cents:

I've used several tools but at the end I found the combination  of MS Word along with a few macros I wrote myself to be the most realiable, easier and most inexpensive way of creatign help files.

Of the tools I've used the one I liked the most was Help Scribble (as AndyJohn already pointed out).

You can find information on 10's of help authoring (including Help Scribble) on the link below:

http://www.helpmaster.com/help/standalone.htm 

I suggest you pick the one you like from that list. It will give you parameters to compare the several available help authoring tools until you have one you like best.

Yours,

Alex
Athena's Place: http://www.bhnet.com.br/~simonet

thanks Alex, i'll try.

Regards
Adeng.

Hi;

I think that the solution to your question resides at Micro$oft site.
The cause is your Windows Help Compiler.
give me your email to send you the actualized version.

T++, Radler.

Hi Radler,

Can you send me the link too please.

pbl24@hotmail.com

Thanks,
Phil.

Thanks Radler

My email is kreta@elga.net.id

For Alex, i try to download autodoc from site you suggest, but not finish yet, because i have a bad conection, here.

Regards.
Adeng.

Thanks Alot Radler,

And thanks to all.

Regards.
Adeng.

BTW, do you know how to convert or generating help file (rtf source) to user manual ? i need word macro or freeware if any. Thanks again.

Adeng.