Placing screen captures as PNGs (without a file for each one)

[Guest]

I'm using RoboHelp 8 HTML under Windows 7. I have been instructed to make the images (which are almost all screen captures) PNG files. I am struggling to find an efficient method of doing this.

My usual method of working is to compile help files in Word, then import to Robohelp. I capture the images with the Windows 7 Snip Tool, often working with them in PowerPoint before placing them in the Word file. With my current procedure, this results in GIFs in the RH file.

In any case, I need to rethink the approach of placing the screen-capture images in the Word file. I know there are problems importing PNGs from Word into RH8, so I think I want to insert them while working in RH, after importing the text, bypassing any problems with Word.

One approach that I know will work is to save each screen capture to a separate file as a PNG, then insert that file into the RH document. I can do this, but it is slow and results in a separate temporary file for each image--hundreds of files in my situation.

Can anyone suggest a better approach? An ideal approach would allow me to "paste as PNG" into RH, so that I don't need to store every screen capture as a PNG file before I can place it in RH. But I can't see a way to do that. What's a good strategy for me?

Thanks,

-- George

[Peter Grainge]

Word and HTML do not play nicely together so if you are going to put them in the same playpen, expect trouble.

Rh8 in particular will always convert PNG images to GIFs and likely create poor quality GIFs. From 9.0.2 things changed but I have still found not all PNGs come in as PNGs, some still convert.

The better approach. Work in Rh's own editor.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge