Until Adobe figures out a better way to package this type of Help, I don’t see it as a viable solution to our needs. Main reasons I see to reject this feature as incomplete and not correctly implemented: Unreasonable requirement to install it as a standalone application, with its own entry in the Add/Remove list of the operating system. Windows certificate requirement is not a desirable feature for many customers, nor us who must purchase a certificate and renew it from one of the certificate vendors. The only benefits beyond WebHelp are: Single file distribution (but requires a rather lengthy installation for large help projects) Customer feedback on help topics and dynamic help content refresh (requires customer to allow users an external connection to our server, which does not follow many corporate IT security models)

G

gmcdonald_lgc

Participant

Question

Adobe Air in RH 8 - rejected

Forum|Forum|17 years ago
May 1, 2009
11 replies
2777 views

Until Adobe figures out a better way to package this type of Help, I don’t see it as a viable solution to our needs.

Main reasons I see to reject this feature as incomplete and not correctly implemented:

Unreasonable requirement to install it as a standalone application, with its own entry in the Add/Remove list of the operating system.
Windows certificate requirement is not a desirable feature for many customers, nor us who must purchase a certificate and renew it from one of the certificate vendors.
The only benefits beyond WebHelp are:
1. Single file distribution (but requires a rather lengthy installation for large help projects)
2. Customer feedback on help topics and dynamic help content refresh (requires customer to allow users an external connection to our server, which does not follow many corporate IT security models)

This topic has been closed for replies.

D

Dhiren_Jani

Participating Frequently

Q: if you ship multiple help files (*.rha files marked with a unique ID) within a container, can you later add additional help files for different products?

A: Yes. You can later add more help files for different products. The product installer will deploy the .helpcfg and .rha files needed on end user machines.

Regarding the cost of certificates:

Typically, you would use the same certificate across the enterprise, unless there is a need for something different.

For example, let's assume that you ship 15 products per year, and the total end machines where the Help Viewer is installed is 100,000.

If you pay $300 per year, then the cost to reach a single desktop is $.003

I don't have the expertise to comment on certificate vs. other security mechanisms so i'll defer to your view.

Addressing the other concerns raised here:

AIR is very successful today, with over 120 million downloads by users. Over 25 million AIR applications have been installed by users since launch. AIR applications include the Time 100 desktop application from Time.com and the Ebay desktop from Ebay.com. You can find a large list of applications in the Adobe Marketplace.

However, if you feel that the AIR Help Viewer needs enhancements then please do fill in our feature request form. Alternatively, I can setup a time for a direct discussion.

We really appreciate the fact that our users are as passionate about our products as we are, and this keeps us motivated to constantly improve our deliverables. Thank you for providing feedback here.

Dhiren Jani

RoboHelp Product Manager

http://blogs.adobe.com/techcomm

D

Dhiren_Jani

Participating Frequently

Hi,

The AIR Help viewer changes the paradigm that you always need to be connected to view Webhelp with its capabilities.

Along with the Rich Internet Application (RIA) interface, AIR Help Viewer allows you to have both offline and online help content delivered to users.

AIR (along with several other categories of applications) has several other capabilities that standard WebHelp does not provide. This is the reason that all AIR applications (including the AIR Help Viewer) need to be digitally signed.

I'm attaching a link to an Adobe devnet article, http://www.adobe.com/devnet/air/articles/signing_air_applications_print.html that explains why certificates are necessary and how to use them.

If you are technically inclined, then you can create your own AIR application to display help using the free flex SDK ( the link is within the devnet article).

AIR Help viewer has a powerful set of features, we keep posting updates on such information in the product team's blog, the link is mentioned in my signature.

Dhiren Jani

RoboHelp Product Manager

http://blogs.adobe.com/techcomm

G

GEWB

Inspiring

Yup.

AIR, like Flash, is a solution looking to cause problems. I have rejected both.

Regards,

GEWB

G

gmcdonald_lgcAuthor

Participant

Adobe caught my eye with the one file distribution brag, so I checked it out.

First I get irritated because they make you ship a Windows security certificate with your application.

Next, I convert a large Webhelp project only to discover this thing repackages it, then turns around and basically ships an executable with the *.air extension. All this thing does is unpack the webhelp AND adds a bunch of support files for their Flash skin. This really was a shock, as I was hoping they were going to ship something similar to a compiled help file like find with*.chm.

Then I look at my Add/Remove and see that any help file clients install of mine are considered STANDALONE apps! So with one product, I have over 20 help files... that means the customers get over 20 apps cluttering up their Add/Remove and are expected to remove them one by one, rather than remove the program, which in turn would remove the supporting help? Ridiculous! Shame on the developers and RH product manager at Adobe.

Regardless of missing the mark on this first attempt, the need is still there to deliver a cross-platform help file that has the full features users expect of a help file, yet more. We want cross-help file keyword search, natural language search, robust built-in scripting for document effects, customizeable skins, integrated web search, blah blah blah.

Show us what you got Adobe, and bury Madcap.

A

Anonymous

I have to say I agree that it's a problem to have to install a help system as a standalone/separate app. I also severely dislike the certificate issue. I want users to be able to access help as seamlessly and quickly as possible.

I think Adobe is on the right track, but this format has some maturing to do.

Ben

GryphonMountain.net

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