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tnewland82
Known Participant
December 21, 2009
Answered

Selecting an Output for an Access Database

  • December 21, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 491 views

I am preparing to start a new Online Help system that will be catered to an MS Access Database project. The developer will be adding Help tags to the project, but I am trying to figure out which RH output method I should use for a database. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips/tricks that I should know?

Thanks in advance!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peter Grainge

    You cannot use CHMs on a network unless you are willing and able to amend the users' registries. See http://www.grainge.org/pages/authoring/chm_mspatch/896358.htm. Make sure the developer and product manager are aware of this. You should not amend a user's registry in this way without their knowledge and consent.

    For server based help you should use WebHelp.

    Check carefully with your developer. I was once advised the application was server based so I produced webhelp. Later I was told the application was on the user's desktop and it was only the database that was on a server. You need the help where the application is.

    Application Local (Desktop) = CHM

    Application on Server = WebHelp.

    Your developer does not have to use AIR. You would generate AIR help from RH7 or RH8.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Follow me @petergrainge

    1 reply

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 21, 2009

    Assuming the database will be installed on the users desktop rather than a server, you need a help system designed to run on the desktop, that pretty much means CHMs or AIR help.

    I believe that from Access your developer can call CSH from a CHM, he will be able to advise you on that. I don't know AIR help can be called from Access.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

    Follow me @petergrainge

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    tnewland82Author
    Known Participant
    December 21, 2009

    Thanks for your response!

    We do not use Adobe AIR, so that is not an option. To my understanding, the database project will exist in our folder on our network and users will access it from there. Can HTML Help (.chm file) still be used for this?

    Thanks again!

    RoboColum_n_
    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    December 21, 2009

    CHM are designed to be installed locally. If you DB is intranet based you'd be better using an output format (e.g. WebHelp) that is specifically designed to be hosted on a web/intranet site.

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