Online-Help Provides Customers "User Assistance"
Online-Help is a technical document that is designed for "User Assistance" in using software applications or operating systems. It is topic, procedural, or reference matter and is created using Help Authoring tools. The formats used for Online-Help are either Hypertext Markup Language(HTML) or Adobe PDF(Portable Document Format). The HTML includes HTML Help, HTML-based Help, DotNetHelp,JavaHelp, and Oracle Help. Some of the aforementioned formats are proprietary and the others open-standard. Some of the well known Help Authoring Tools include: AuthorIT, Adobe RoboHelp, Doc-To-Help, and WinHelp. Help Authoring Tools are capable of importing text file formats such as ASCII, HTML, and Microsoft WORD and processing the information into compiled formats such as WinHelp (*.HLP) or Microsoft Compiled HTML (*.CHM). They can also change the imported text files into non-compiled file formats such as Adobe PDF, XML, and HTML. Typical website page may include the hypertext links for the user to click on to get assistance with their problem or information they need. The links may be located in a sidebar probably on the left hand side and on the right side you may have a window showing the “Introduction”. This where you are welcomed to the site followed by the sections called "new features" and "comparison to XYZ 3.0". Here you would find a brief description summary of the new XYZ 3.0 software and how it has been improved from the previous version. The “Installation and Setup” section follows giving you the lowdown about installing your product etc. As you, the user, click on a link you are sent to the page or section of a page that provides you with the required content. Each online-help site is different and organized differently reflecting the complexity or lack of in the product it represents. A sample typical one might look like this:
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