Hi guys. Hope everyone is doing well. My last blog about 90’s kids really had good response, felt happy for it. Again I bounce back to explain the shades of technical writing.
Let me explain about the basic tool “RoboHelp” used in technical writing these days. RoboHelp is also called as HAT which is abbreviated as Help Authorizing Tool. The tool was first created by Gen Kiyooka further released by Blue Sky Software in 1992. Later on the tool was officially acquired by Adobe in 2005. The updated version 13.0 of RoboHelp was released in 2017.
In general RoboHelp tool is used to shrink the size of the screen in all devices without any software installation. Updated features of the tool helps in engaging with e books, technical content, addressing various target audience. This tool uses SSL (single source layout) templates for different projects outputs which are listed as follows:
Responsive HTML5 - Kind of web design uses HTML and Cascading style sheets to automatically shrink the size of the output and make it look good in all devices.
eBook - Abbreviated from electronic book which makes book publication available in digital form and comprises of text, images, readable on the emissive (LED) and non-emissive display (LCD).
Microsoft HTML Help - Helps in compiling of HTML; involves the process of compressing HTML pages, index and other navigation tools; possess binary format of extension .CHM.
JavaHelp - Helps to display the files in java browser.
Oracle Help - Kind of technology meant for developing and displaying HTML-based help systems for java and web applications. Single help system can be developed, without modification it can be used in Java applications too using oracle.
Eclipse Help - Used in computer programming and act as a website poll in java IDE from 2014.
Adobe AIR Help - Act as a cross operating system and helps the developers in combining HTML, JavaScript, and adobe flash on a broad range of devices.
Standard Word and PDF documentation
The 2017 released tool RoboHelp has following special features:
Next-generation HTML5 layouts - This layout offers superior search; better way of directing; preloaded with topic sliders, widgets, show/hide; displays the content as per the screen view.
Auto-complete – Helps in setting up better search or keyword strings where we no need to type the complete word or the string to search else typing two or three words pop up the required results.
Thumbnail support – Instead of inserting the images with huge space consumption, provides alternate way of inserting the thumbnail of images where clicking on the thumbnail displays image in macro view and occupies less space storage.
Favorites in Responsive HTML5 layouts – Helps in adding customized links to the favorite topics/important stuffs and can be read in detail.
Baggage file folder import – We can fetch the required information in rapid way by storing the complete project details in a baggage folder and import it by a single click.
Variable views – Create a toggle between variable name (single or all variables) / keyword shortcuts. Helps the user to view as per the need.
Process involved in RoboHelp server
Adobe RoboHelp server act as a help solution tool, the content can be uploaded to the server which displayed as the feedback for real-time end users. It also records the queries of the end-user and supports them with suitable results. It helps in directing the users around the help system based on their requirements. Graphical flow of adobe RoboHelp is shown below:
Here using an authoring tool we can author the content, multiple projects can be included at the same time, and automatic merging of projects also takes place. The author can work on different projects at different schedules and publish all the outputs in the same server. Author can also publish projects of different languages into the same server. Because RoboHelp can interface with database servers such as Oracle or MS SQL Server further generate reports or logs. The reply for the queries will be relayed back via an Apache HTTP Server (it is a free and open source platform developed for all software’s).
Overview of Adobe RoboHelp Window Pane
Basic elements of robohelp workspace are pods, panes, bars, and windows. Some of the commonly used components are Quick access tool bar (customized bar is created for frequently used commands); Tabs (includes tabs based on functionality; content; and formatting); Document pane (involves three rows: Tabbed document pane; Design and HTML Pane; and Document area selectors); and Pods (helps in accessing all the features which are logically grouped).
Thus this blog helps the beginners to understand the basics, updated features, and process carried out by the tool RoboHelp in writing.
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