Netscape NetHelp is a cross-platform context-sensitive
online help system that is based on a Netscape Navigator
browser window and HTML documents. The help topics can
include HTML documents stored on a workstation drive, an
Intranet or the word wide web. The topic files can contain
Java applets, JavaScript and graphics.
The NetHelp window can contain a help topic frame, table
of contents, keyword index, header frame that can be used to
open related help topic files, and a tool bar for printing
and navigating a help topic file.
How to Create a NetHelp System
If you decide to use NetHelp, be
prepared to spend a lot of time learning how to use the
product and to debug your help projects. This system is not
the the faint of heart. To create a NetHelp project, you must
first create a HTML file that contains your help topics. Most
of your help topics will go in a single file, unless you have
a very large project. NetHelp will only display a Table of
Contents for a single HTML file at one time.
You may not be able to use your
favorite HTML editor. You cannot create a NetHelp project
with Microsoft Front Page, HotMetalPro and possibly many
other commercial HTML editor. You can, however, use Netscape
Composer to create a NetHelp HTML file, but for some tasks
you may need to directly add and edit the HTML tags. Netscape
promises to deliver some Java plug-ins that will simplify the
task of creating a NetHelp file with Composer.
To create a table of contents and
keyword index for your help project you must add specific
HTML tags to your help topic file. The NetHelp builder
program will then read these tags and create the appropriate
files.
As things currently stand, creating a NetHelp project will
be very complex, time consuming and possibly quite
frustrating. You may need to test your project often and
finding errors will not be easy. If you want to use HTML help
for a Windows 95 program, I suggest you consider Microsoft's
HTML Help. It is support by third party products from
companies like Bluesky (RoboHelp) and ForeFront (ForeHelp).
NetHelp may eventually become easier to use. Both Bluesky
and ForeFront will be releasing products that will make it
easier to create NetHelp files.