Most programmers would rather eat dirt than create a Help file, as demonstrated by the common criticism given by users on the very poor state of Help files. Missing information, inconsistent information, incorrect information, out-of-date information, ... - you name it, and help files have it.

Fortunately, there are tools which can ease the burden of getting a quality Help file.

Background
In 1996 Microsoft stopped development on WinHelp (.hlp extensions) and began development on compiled HTML help files (.chm extensions). Microsoft HTML Help 1.4 is the latest release.

There is also Microsoft Help 2.0, used exclusively in Visual Studio .NET, the MSDN Library and TechNet products. However Microsoft has decided not to release Help 2.0 as a general help platform and encourages users to use HTML Help 1.x.

Starting with Vista, development has shifted to the Microsoft Assistance Markup Language. Only critical updates (no new features) to the previous Help systems are expected. The new system is backwards compatible with .hlp and .chm formats.

For more information, try one of these sites.

• Microsoft Help
• HTML Help Workshop (download)
• The Helpware Group
  
• Help Wiki
  
• 
  

Review Results
This review is in work. Until the review is complete, I suggest the following application for your Help authoring needs:

• Microsoft HTML Help 1.4 SDK
  With this free solution from Microsoft you can produce the .CHM files you want. To get .HLP files you'll have to use an earlier product, but I suggest you stay with .CHM only.

Help Authoring Software Features
These are the minimum features that I expect from Help authoring software. Each of the candidate programs will be ranked against how well they implement the following features. As the review continues, the list of features may change.

1. WYSIWYG editing
2. Formats suppoted .hlp, .chm, .html, .pdf, .doc, .xml
3. Automated Help generation from source code
4. Visual customization options
5. Template support

Candidate Programs
These are the programs included in this review.

There are only a few freeware help authoring tools.

1. HelpMaker
2. Mif2Go (*free w/conditions)
3. Shalom Help Maker

And here are the commercial/shareware Help authoring tools.

!Abee Chm Maker $39 AuthorIT $ NG AVHelp $57 chm2web Pro $150 Dr.Explain $125 doc-o-matic Pro $999 Doc-To-Help $750 EasyHelp $299 FAR $44 Fast-Help $299 GenHelp Pro $211 Help & Manual $299 Help Explorer Viewer $79 Help Generator $299 Help Magician $249 Help Maker Plus $45 Help Publisher $169 HelpBreeze $279 HelpCruiser $125 HelpKit $169

HelpMapper? $ NG HelpNDoc $68 HelpScribble $99 HelpServer $ NG HelpStudio $607 HTML Help Builder $299 HTML Indexer $100 MGTEK Help Producer $395 QuickHelp $195 MadCap Flare $399 MagicHelp Mif2Go $295 NetDocs $400 PaperKiller $99 Pocket CHM $60 RoboHelp $999 RoleHelp $59 TeeGofer $149 The HyperText Studio $50 Visual WinHelp $50 WinCHM $99 XDK $679

Notes
These are some comments/notes I've made as I research the various tools.

• CHM Decoder freeware CHM to source files
• Deva Tools site is not available
• Sevensteps site is in Dutch
• TwinText seems out of business
• VyperHelp is for OS/2
• ABC Amber CHM Converter CHM to PDF $20
• ABC Amber HLP Converter HLP converter $20

User Feedback & Suggestions
I welcome any suggestions on other timer programs that should be considered, or suggestions on how better to review the selected programs.