How do I get a more modern look and feel for a compiled help file

[Guest]

I gather from reading various posts that there is no easy way to generate a .chm file with a more modern look and feel (am I right about this?). Are there no plug-ins available from Adobe that will enable us to generate a help file that looks more modern?

I hesitate to move to flash help or something like that because, of course, then the developers would have to hookup the hundreds of dialog boxes we have in our product to the new files. I also think that having one file is way easier to manage in terms of getting updated help to the customers. What are online Help developers generally delivering for apps where users are not connected to the Internet except perhaps periodically while using the software? I'm a writer (not a developer) so need soemthing that is easy to implement :-)

Thanks for your help. It is much appreciated.

[Guest]

first, define "more modern look" - what, for you, appears archaic on the current look and feel offered in a chm?

keep in mind also, that changes to look and feel can add a serious amount of anxiety for your end user. sometimes consistency (even to a boring point) is a good thing. if I am a user looking for help, the last thing I want to wade through are a lot of bells and whistles that get in the way of the information I need.

[RoboColum_n_]

To add to the advice already offered, you can apply a skin to a CHM file which allows you to customise it. However as with most things there are issues with this approach. You can read about this by downloading Rick Stone's excellent tips 'n tricks file. Just look in the index under "skins". Something else you may want to look at is the beta of Adobe's AIR.