User-friendly WYSIWYG Editor
- New in Helen 2: it includes a WYSIWYG HTML editor
The integrated WYSIWYG HTML editor ensures that the content during editing appears very similar to the final product.
Several HTML files can be edited concurrently. Based on the 100 percent focusing of the system on JavaHelpTM,
the editor can guarantee a high reliability concerning the output result of the HTML pages.
The editor offers easy-to-use features for working with tables, inserting and editing hyperlinks,
anchors, images and also secondary windows.
- Switch to HTML code view and back to WYSIWYG view retaining the selection
If you select something in the WYSIWYG Editor - some characters, an image, or a paragraph - then click
on the code view tab to locate it immediately, because the corresponding html code is selected in the
code view and vice versa.
- Global Search & Replace across files
It is possible to use the new search and replace functionality globally for all files that are part of the project.
- Spell checking
A spell checking function is offered. Additionally, Helen checks the spelling of the text during
the editing and underlines unknown expressions. The language for the check can be set in the helpset file.
Easy start
- Installation and configuration of Helen plus JavaHelpTM on
a mouse-click
Helen's automatical install program installs Helen (including graphical interface, HTML editor and preview) plus
the redistributable
parts of the JavaHelpTM system (all you need for creating online help) and JRE 1.5. Thus, manual
installation, configuration and patching for the used basic systems are not
necessary.
- Integrated wizard mode
Using the wizard, online helps can be created in a few minutes. The wizard's easily understandable user interface guides through the single work steps, starting with the creation of a project and the adding of HTML pages, continuing with the design of index and table of contents up to output (including search index) as JAR archive or open project. Online helps that were created with the wizard can be individually reworked in advanced mode.
- Comfortable project management
All files needed for a JavaHelpTM project (HTML files containing the single pages of the online help, xml files for index and table of contents etc.) will be administered by Helen.
Comfortable work
- Automatic generation of index, search index and table of contents
Index and table of contents can be created automatically based on the HTML files that are included in the project. The alphabetical sorting of the index will be performed by the system. The result of the automatic generation can be fully edited. A search index will be created automatically (considering individually editable stopword lists) and embedded into the online help.
- WYSIWYG editing of index and table of contents
Index and table of contents can be structured hierarchically using drag&drop. The number of nesting levels is unlimited. Sorting inside sub items is fully supported. Editing index and table of contents is completely done in WYSIWYG mode.
- Automatic mapping of components
Creating map items for the online help's files, deleting corresponding map items after removing files and updating references after changing map items is automatically done by the help authoring tool (HAT) Helen. Manual adding, editing and removing of map items is possible.
Powerful import and export
- Import of existing JavaHelpTM helpsets
Existing JavaHelpTM helpsets can be imported completely (also from JAR) and can be edited in the same way as projects that were originally created in Helen. Included indices and tables of contents as well as the mapping can be taken over losslessly.
- Publishing as JAR or open directory structure
Output can be generated as JAR archive or as open directory structure including all necessary files. Both output types lead to an online help that can be immediately used. No background knowledge about the structural components of the project is needed.
- Exporting a single XHTML file of the complete HelpSet
Helen creates an XHTML document that keeps text and structure of the original online help project. Formatting details are largely preserved, table of contents, index, glossary and also links inside the document can still be used in the XHTML document. Thus, the exported XHTML document is an excellent base e.g. to be further processed and formatted in another editor that is able to handle XHTML files like MS Office Word.
- Exporting PDF
Helen creates a PDF document that keeps text and structure of the original online help project. Formatting details are largely preserved, table of contents, index, glossary and also links inside the document can still be used in the PDF document. Thus, the exported PDF document makes it possible to get a detailed impression of the online help, e.g. to be shown or checked in an environment that is not able to handle JavaHelp projects.
Secure result
- Consistency check
All components of the project can be checked regarding their consistency. Error messages and warnings will be created referring to situations like index or table of contents entries without target, map file entries without target, undefined start page etc. A message list will be displayed. Clicking a message in the list will make the system switch to a view where the problem can be corrected immediately.
- Testing in WYSIWYG preview
The WYSIWYG preview allows complete testing of the current project status at every point of the online help's development. The functionality of all components (index, search index, table of contents etc.) in preview is exactly the same as their functionality in the ready to use online help.
- Specialization of all components in JavaHelpTM
The specialization of all components in JavaHelpTM guarantees a high security concerning administration, handling and presentation of all used components. Special requirements of JavaHelpTM are completely fulfilled.
- Generated online helps running on every Java 2 platform
Online helps created by Helen can be used cross-platform, i.e. they run on every platform that supports Java 2. This feature is based on the system independence of the underlying JavaHelpTM system.
