A Help authoring tool or HAT is a software program used by technical writers to create online Help.
Some common Help authoring tools include:
- Doc-To-Help: An authoring tool based on Microsoft Word
- Adobe FrameMaker: The most common tool for large technical documents. Requires other tools to convert content to online Help.
- Microsoft HTML Help SDK: A collection of tools for creating files in Microsoft's HTML Help format.
- Macromedia RoboHelp: A specialized tool for creating online help.
- Microsoft Word: Widely used for technical writing despite its limitations. Requires other tools to convert content to online Help.
- 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.
- AuthorIT: A collaborative authoring tool used for single-source content management.
- Republicorp XDK: An XML, HTML, and Help toolkit based on Microsoft Word.
Technical writers often use content management systems and version control systems to manage their work.