Help authoring tool: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Software to aid production of "help" systems}}

A '''Help authoring tool''' or '''HAT''' is a software program used by [[Technical writer|technical writers]] to create online Help.

{{Other uses|Hat (disambiguation)}}

{{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}

A '''Help Authoring Tool''' or '''HAT''' is a software program used by [[technical writer]]s to create [[online help]] systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Catherine |date=2019-01-14 |title=Best Help Authoring Tools (HAT) & Software Compared for 2024 |url=https://document360.com/blog/help-authoring-tools/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Document360 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What is an help authoring tool ? |url=https://www.helpndoc.com/help-authoring-tool/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.helpndoc.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Functions==

Some common Help authoring tools include:

The basic functions of a Help Authoring Tool (HAT) can be divided into the following categories:

*[[FrameMaker|Adobe FrameMaker]]: The most common tool for large technical documents.

*[[RoboHelp|Macromedia RoboHelp]]: A specialized tool for creating online help.

*[[Microsoft Word]]: Widely used for technical writing despite its limitations.

*[[Epic Editor]]: An [[XML]]-based authoring tool.

*[[Microsoft Visio]]: Software for creating diagrams.

*[[Webworks Publisher]]: Converts documents in various formats to other formats, primarily [[HTML]].

===File input===

Technical writers also use [[content management system]]s and [[version control system]]s to manage their work.

HATs obtain their source text either by importing it from a file produced by another program, or by allowing the author to create the text within the tool by using an editor. File formats that can be imported vary from HAT to HAT. Acceptable file formats can include [[ASCII]], [[HTML]], [[OpenOffice.org|OpenOffice Writer]] and [[Microsoft Word]], and compiled Help formats such as [[Microsoft WinHelp]] and [[Microsoft Compiled HTML Help]].

===Help output===

The output from a HAT can be either a compiled Help file in a format, such as [[WinHelp]] (*.HLP) or [[Microsoft Compiled HTML Help]] (*.CHM), or noncompiled file formats such as Adobe [[PDF]], [[XML]], [[HTML]] or [[JavaHelp]].

===Auxiliary functions===

Some HATs provide extra functions such as:

* Automatic or assisted [[Index (publishing)|Index]] generation

* Automatic [[Table of Contents]]

* [[Spelling checker]]

* Image editing

* Image hotspot editing

* Import and export of text in [[XML]] files, for exchange with [[computer-assisted translation]] programs

==Common help authoring tools==

Some common Help authoring toolsHATs include:

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* [[HelpNDoc]]

* [[Adobe RoboHelp]]

* [[HelpSmith]]

* [[MadCap Software|Doc-To-Help]]

* [[MadCap Software|MadCap Flare]]

* Help & Manual

* [[Sandcastle (software)|Sandcastle]]

* [[AsciiDoc]]

==Related software==

Technical writers alsooften use [[content management system]]s and [[version control system]]s to manage their work.

==See also==

* [[List of help authoring tools]]

* [[User assistance]]

{{Authority control}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Help Authoring Tool}}

[[Category:Technical communication]]

[[Category:Technical communication tools]]

[[Category:Help authoring tools]]