topic Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface in .NET Forum

Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

jefries1683 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 04:24:10 GMT

I have gotten to a point in development where I have created enough custom tools and commands where it is now too difficult to document for end users via PDFs.

I wanted to get an idea of how any of you handle this. My best plan so far is to create a web application with ASP.Net which closely resembles the AutoCAD "help" interface. Is this a good approach or are there better options? Does Autodesk provide any useful templates or API to assist developers in this area?

Thanks,

Jeff

Detroit, MI

Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

wispoxy — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:43:40 GMT

You can just modify the AutoCAD help offline pages. Custom help interfaces are fun to create and use, I understand you.

By the way: Novi, MI. I'm close to you 🙂

Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

jefries1683 — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 18:05:13 GMT

Andrew,

I searched further using your idea and stumbeled onto innovasys. I might try it.

...and I'm closer than you think. I claim Detroit in my sig seeing as only locals would know the smaller sities. I actually work in Farmington Hills. We should hook up for lunch some day.

Jeff

Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

wispoxy — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 19:20:02 GMT

A beer and sandwich sounds good. I'll private message you sometime soon.

Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

BKSpurgeon — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 05:15:04 GMT

One option would be to create a custom help file.

compiled HTML help file. i think they are called a chm file.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBgYKhsvQPI

i'm sure such a documentation method would be much simpler than working through asp.net which is a mighty pain.

that's how i would do it

hope this helps.

rgds

Re: Seeking recommendations for creating a custom "help" interface

Dale.Bartlett — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 06:35:21 GMT

I use Word2CHM. Possibly not the most efficient, but works well and has source code:

codeproject Word2CHM

Dale