ROBOHELP X4: MAKING WAVES IN HELP TECHNOLOGY
New Macromedia Flash-Based Help Format Creates a More Effective
User Experience
SAN DIEGO - May 27, 2003 - eHelp=81 Corporation, a worldwide
leader in award-winning software since 1990, today unveiled RoboHelp=A8
X4, the next generation in Help authoring technology for Web-based and
desktop applications (Windows, Mac and Linux). As the newest version
of RoboHelp, the industry standard in Help authoring, RoboHelp X4 will
include a preview of FlashHelp=81, a revolutionary new Macromedia
Flash-based Help format that is bandwidth-efficient and
firewall-friendly. Because FlashHelp is based on XML and Flash
technology from Macromedia Inc., it offers rich-media capabilities and
guarantees a consistent user experience across the widest array of
platforms and browsers. Additionally, RoboHelp X4 incorporates
enhanced support for FrameMaker from Adobe Systems Inc., WebHelp
merging and new exciting features for customers using the Microsoft
Word authoring environment in RoboHelp.
"We are extremely pleased that eHelp has selected Macromedia
Flash technology as the platform for its breakthrough Help format,"
said Param Singh, director of product management,
Macromedia. "FlashHelp is an important innovation because it
will enable an exciting and more effective user experience. We believe
that FlashHelp can become the standard in Help technology because of
its ability to adapt to the rapidly-changing demands of Web-based and
desktop applications."
Introducing New Revolutionary Help Format: FlashHelp
FlashHelp breaks away from the current paradigm of static Help
systems by empowering technical writers and software developers to
customize their Help systems with Macromedia Flash interactivity and
sound. Until now, there was no existing Help format that both enhanced
the usability of desktop and Web applications, and met the current
aesthetic standards in Web interface design. FlashHelp fills this
void, enabling Help authors and software developers to create
rich-media Help systems that keep pace with today's dynamic
applications.
In addition, FlashHelp provides greater consistency in appearance
and navigation across all popular browsers and platforms including
Windows, Mac, Linux and the Web. FlashHelp is bandwidth-efficient and
also resolves security firewall issues common with other Help
formats.
RoboHelp X4: Progressive Functionality
* Enhanced FrameMaker Support - RoboHelp X4 accelerates the
creation of Help systems based on Adobe FrameMaker documents by
allowing users to rapidly convert any number of FrameMaker documents
to .MIF format for easy importing into RoboHelp.
* WebHelp Merging - With RoboHelp X4, users can easily merge
multiple Help projects on any desktop or server. This allows multiple
authors to work independently on different sections of a Help system
and then merge all the sections together into a single Help system at
runtime.
RoboHelp X4: New Features in Microsoft Word Authoring
Environment
Based on popular demand, the innovations that were introduced in
RoboHelp X3's HTML authoring environment are now also available in
RoboHelp X4's Microsoft Word authoring environment. These features
include:
Completely Re-Engineered Printed Documentation Output - Users
now have more control over the content and appearance of the printed
documentation generated from their Help project. RoboHelp X4 can
automatically create a cover page, table of contents, index and
pagination, and it even allows users to apply their own corporate
templates. Users can re-organize and edit their content specifically
for print, independent of the design of the online Help system.
Conditional Text with Overlapping - Conditional Text allows
users to select different content for different versions of their Help
system or printed documentation and generate multiple Help and
documentation outputs, all from a single project. Conditional text can
be assigned at the topic, paragraph, character levels, and even to
graphics and tables. Users can overlap Conditional Text tags to
include the same content in multiple outputs.
Single-Source Layouts - Users can save time and ensure a
consistent look and feel every time they regenerate their Help output
or documentation, after updates have been made. With single-source
layouts, users can easily define and save their layout settings for
each output, including Help format, documentation format, conditional
text designations and skins.
Glossary Support - With RoboHelp X4, Help authors can easily
add a glossary to their Help system. Using the Glossary, end-users can
quickly find definitions to unfamiliar words in the Help content
without leaving the topic they are viewing.
About RoboHelp
RoboHelp, the industry standard in Help authoring, allows
technical writers and software developers to easily create
professional Help systems for desktop and Web-based applications,
including .NET. RoboHelp offers the flexibility to choose from a
variety of authoring environments such as the powerful built-in HTML
editor, any popular HTML editor, or Microsoft Word. In addition,
RoboHelp allows the import of existing content from Word, FrameMaker,
HTML projects or existing Help projects. Automated wizards create
Help-specific features in seconds, including a table of contents,
index, glossary, topics, graphics and special effects. RoboHelp has
won more than 55 prestigious industry awards.
Platforms Supported by RoboHelp
The Help systems generated by RoboHelp can run on the Web,
Windows from Microsoft Corp., MAC OS X from Apple Computer Inc., Linux
on IBM Corp. and other flavors of Linux.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing for RoboHelp X4 starts at $379 (USD) and will be
available May 30, 2003. For more information, contact eHelp
Corporation at Tel: 1-800-459-2356 (U.S. and Canada) or +1
858-847-7900 (worldwide), Web site: (a
href=3D"http://www.ehelp.com/")http://www.ehelp.com(/a), Email: (a
href=3D"mailto:robohelpinfo@ehelp.com")robohelpinfo@ehelp.com(/a).
About eHelp Corporation
Founded in 1990, eHelp Corporation (formerly Blue Sky Software)
is a worldwide leader in providing award-winning software. eHelp's
software products reduce support costs and increase customer
satisfaction by dramatically improving the usability of desktop and
Web-based applications, intranets and Web sites. As the industry
standard in Help authoring, RoboHelp provides the foundation to more
than 250 million online Help and user assistance systems currently in
use around the world. eHelp's products have won more than 60
prestigious industry awards and more than two-thirds of Fortune 1000
companies are customers. For more information, visit (a
href=3D"http://www.ehelp.com/")http://www.ehelp.com(/a).