Flare Help Development

Modeled after our highly successful RoboHelp Online Help Development Seminars, the 1-day Flare Online Help Development seminars are designed to teach you, not only the basics of developing online help using Flare 3, but the theory and concepts behind effectively writing documentation that can be used successfully in print and online.

Our typical course include the following topics:
  • Understanding the Theory Behind Writing and Using Help
    • When do people use help?
    • What are your users thinking when they access help?
    • How far will they go to understand your structure?

  • Basic Help Terminology
    • Review of Help-related terms.
    • Topics, Footnotes, HTML, DHTML, Windows, Headers, Footers, Templates, Links, Hypertext jumps, Bookmarks, XML, Single-Sourcing, Docking Frames, and much more.

  • Choosing a Help Format
    • HTML help or Flare's Web-based Help, Context-sensitive help, cross-platform, cross-browser…understanding what online help you need to develop.

  • Getting Started
    • Tips for Writing for Online (Writing it Right)
    • Before you write your manual, what do you need to know?

  • Help Basics
    • Creating a Project
    • Adding Topics
    • Designing the look of your help project
    • Importing RoboHelp Projects
    • Importing Word files
    • Working with the Flare interface
    • Fine-Tuning a project
    • Linking topics
    • Adding a glossary
    • Troubleshooting links, formatting
    • Using Variables

  • Access Points - what they are, how to create them:
    • Creating a Table of Contents: How to structure your project; Working with Master TOCs
    • Creating a Useful Index: Helping users find the information they need, Importing an indexing, Creating one in Flare
    • Search
    • Context Sensitive Help: Creating map files, Design and implementation, What you need to know, What your developer needs to do.

  • Overview of Flare Dialog Boxes
    • Walk through the program, Topics, Links, Mapping, Properties, etc.

  • Localization Issues
    • How to translate your Help, taking it to other languages.

  • Working with Multiple Authors and Projects
    • Merging .CHMs and Flare's Web-based help

For more information on attending our upcoming 1-day, hands-on workshop, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .