Work Write, Inc., and KeyWorks Software Release KeyHelp 1.1

Work Write, Inc. and KeyWorks Software have just released KeyHelp 1.1, an ActiveX control that Help authors and programmers can use to enhance the capabilities of the Microsoft compiled HTML Help standard.

It may seem strange to be releasing enhancements for a Help technology that is already earmarked for replacement. However, the release of Microsoft's new Help 2.0 format was put on hold and a new release date has not yet been announced. Those developers who support Windows applications will likely have to use the current version of HTML Help well into 2003.

Also, the fact that HTML Help has remained relatively unchanged over the past four years means that some aspects of it are overdue for improvement. Two examples are the control of secondary windows and the appearance of popups (HTML Help only provides direct support for plain text within popup windows.) The limitations in these areas have frustrated some Help developers—particularly those with previous experience in developing WinHelp, which provided more complete support for both popups and secondary windows.

In the past few years, Work Write, Inc., and KeyWorks Software have released a number of complementary tools and controls, the latest of which is KeyHelp 1.1. The two people involved in the collaboration, Ralph Walden and Cheryl Lockett Zubak, have been able to draw on considerable experience and expertise. Ralph was the original architect and creator of Windows Help at Microsoft, and Cheryl is a widely respected consultant and popular speaker at WinWriters Conferences.

The features of KeyHelp 1.1 include:

• Popups that support just about anything you can use on an HTML page (including HTML tags, style sheets, scripting, DHTML, and animation)—an example of these popups can be seen in the Help for Quicken 2003, which uses KeyHelp 1.1
• Embedded windows that enable you to build Help into the interface of your application
• Auto-sizing secondary windows that automatically change size according to the amount of content in the window
• Content-level information types that enable you to hide and show content that you have tagged for a particular type of user
• Script extensions for accessing the KeyHelp ActiveX control, and the ability to programmatically read Microsoft Help 2.0 files

Note that if a Help system uses any of these enhanced features, it will require the KeyHelp ActiveX control to be present (and registered) on the end-user's PC.

In common with all the previous tools and controls from KeyWorks Software, KeyHelp 1.1 is available for free. You can download it from: www.keyworks.net.

For more information on KeyHelp, contact Cheryl Lockett Zubak, President of Work Write, Inc., at 215-357-3453, email Cheryl at cheri@workwrite.com, or visit her website at www.workwrite.com.