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Now
it’s possible – what many technical communicators and managers has dreamt about
for years! The ultimate "single source" manual/help:
Context sensitive online help
with links to keywords in
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files
If you make a PDF-file anyway – why then create
another help-file?
Easy for the users –
a good, inexpensive service from your organization!
1.
Click the [?] button, and then click the field
or button for which help is wanted.
2.
The free Adobe (Acrobat) Reader opens the PDF
help-file on the most relevant page for this particular field or button, and
highlights the keywords starting the relevant help-text!
Applications
·
Any Windows executable application file (.exe
file) with a user interface.
·
Any database application with a user interface,
for example Microsoft Access or FoxPro.
·
Microsoft Excel and other equivalent
spreadsheets featuring macros.
Easy for the
technical communicator – and fast!
All inclusive it only takes from a few minutes to a few hours, even the first time:
1.
Open the PRC
AcosHelp Manager. AcosHelp =Acrobat Context Sensitive
Help.
2.
Copy (Ctrl-C) the list of contents (TOC) for the
manual from Adobe FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign,
Adobe (Acrobat) Reader or any other document editor/reader.
3.
Click a button in the PRC AcosHelp Manager to
enter the TOC.
4.
When asked: add information about language, file
position, page numbering system, etc.
5.
Click a button to create the CAF-file (Context sensitive help
with Acrobat Files). The CAF-file is an application specific data-file,
which is used by the free-of-charge PRC
AcosHelp Handler (placed in the Windows directory) for controlling the Adobe
(Acrobat) Reader.
6.
Add extra keywords and the object references (for
example help numbers, see below). Edit if needed and save the CAF-file. You can
also export the data to an RTF-file, edit them in e.g. Adobe FrameMaker or
Microsoft Word, re-import the data and save the amended CAF-file.
Easy for the
programmers
1.
Simple communication with the documentation
department about object references:
·
Give the technical communicator a list of the help numbers you have used or the names of all the objects, for example “formMain.txtName”.
Or
- Get
an exported list from the technical communicator with the help number for each object.
2.
Implement the context sensitive help for each
object as agreed upon (help numbers
or object names). The manual for PRC AcosHelp
Manager contains standard code for Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Access and
Microsoft Excel applications (others to follow).
Easy handling of
translations
·
Simple procedure for creating a CAF-file for other
language editions of the application. A lot of the data comes from the
source-language CAF-file. Typical time used: from a few minutes to maybe a few
hours (mainly identifying the keywords in the foreign language).
Easy handling of
updates
·
Simple and fast procedures for updating the
CAF-file(s) for
o
the source language (the first or only language)
o
the translations
when an
application has been updated. Updates are typically handled in a few minutes
because CAF-file data are reused.
Easy to learn to use
·
Wizard-like 'intelligent' procedures – you almost can’t do it wrong!
·
AcosHelp is of course implemented as context sensitive help system
for the PRC AcosHelp Manager.
Test
it for free – buy it when you feel sure!
Download the complete PRC
AcosHelp package for free. When installed, you can use it on all your own applications.
No time limitation! The only disadvantage is some frequent and annoying 'Unlicensed...'
messages to the end-user when using the help function.
Buy PRC AcosHelp when you have decided to use it – and the
annoying messages will disappear after a simple open-and-save process! The
introduction price (rest of 2003) is only Danish kroner 2200 ~ € 295 (+ VAT if
applicable for you within the EU.)
PRC AcosHelp is programmed by Peter Ring, PRC – specialist in user-friendly
technical communication and
programming.
Further information
Please contact PRC.
Download a PDF-version for printout: Right-click link
and select 'Save destination as...'.
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