Download - Online Help Authoring Tools Analysis
Agenda
• Purpose of Analysis
• Suggested Tools
• Help and Manual
• HelpSmith
• Helpinator
• Dr.Explain
• Market Leaders
• Adobe RoboHelp
• Author-IT
• ArborText Editor
• Madcap Flare
• Adobe Framemaker
• Purpose of Analysis
• Issues with Drupal
• Copy and format text
• Usability issues
• Content reuse
• Versioning or Conditional Text
• Plug and Play
• Structured Authoring
Help and ManualTool Name and Version Help and Manual Professional 6
Company Ecosoftware
Website www.helpandmanual.com
Price $550
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
$389
Online Help Support Versioning (with Server)
Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Supports WebHelp, PDF, Mobile Help)
Comments • Good WebHelp Output • Minimum changes required after importing the RTF
document• Supports Version when integrated Help & Manual Server• Has inbuilt screenshot enhancer(Impict)
Analysis
HelpSmith 5.2Tool Name and Version HelpSmith 5.2
Company Divcom Software
Website www.helpsmith.com
Price $199
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
$99
Online Help Support Versioning Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Supports CHM, PDF output and Embed Videos)
Analysis Results •Supports variables, breadcrumbs, custom HTML code.•Supports Translation (Unicode support)
Analysis
HelpinatorTool Name and Version Helpinator 3.1.1
Company Major Mind Software
Website www.helpinator.com
Price $250
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
250 for Lifetime Upgrade
Online Help Support Versioning Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Supports CHM, PDF output and Embed Videos)
Comments • Good retention of formatting when copy pasted from MS Word
• Supports Translation• Screenshot association with topics for easier
management of screenshots
Analysis
Dr.ExplainTool Name and Version Dr.Explain 5
Company BlueSnap
Website www.drexplain.com
Price $290 (Advanced), $349 (Ultima)
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
Not mentioned
Online Help Support Versioning Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Supports Online Help, CHM, PDF output)
Comments • Good Online Help output• Easier organization of content• Automate the Help Authoring (Needs Setup and Learning
required)
Analysis
Market Leaders
• Used widely by many technical writers
• Support DITA, the latest technology for
authoring
• Structured Authoring
• Excellent Support and Forums available
Adobe RoboHelpTool Name and Version RoboHelp 11
Company Adobe
Website www.adobe.com
Price $999
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
$599
Online Help Support Versioning (with Server)
Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Supports CHM, PDF output and Embed Videos)
Comments • Easier Learning Curve• Easier customization of skins and templates• Good option for Online Help Output
Analysis
Author-ITTool Name and Version Author-IT 6
Company Author-IT Software
Website www.author-it.com
Price $2,000 - $10,000 (Small team-group-based)
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
No mention
Online Help Support Versioning (with Server-$1999)
Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Web Help, PDF, Printed Documentation, )Comments • Ease of Use
• Easily import from MS Word• Easy Documentation Management and Content reuse
Analysis
PTC ArborText EditorTool Name and Version PTC ArborText Editor, acquired Epic Editor
Company PTC
Website www.ptc.com
Price Secret Pricing Model
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
No mention
Online Help Support (Integrate with ArborText Publishing Engine)
Versioning Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Web Help, PDF, HTML Help, Printed Documentation)
Comments • Automate the production with integration of CMS• Include interactive 2D and 3D illustrations• Easy to transfer MS Word content (Copy/Paste)
Analysis
Madcap FlareTool Name and Version Madcap Flare 11
Company Madcap Software
Website www.madcapsoftware.com
Price $1448
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
No mention
Online Help Support Versioning Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (Online Help, PDF, Printed Documentation, Context-Sensitive Help, Mobile Help)
Comments • Steep Learning Curve• Excellent output and customizations available• Consistent output and versatile
Analysis
Adobe FramemakerTool Name and Version Framemaker 12
Company Adobe
Website www.adobe.com
Price $999
Upgrade Cost from Previous Version
$599
Online Help Support (Additional Plug-in Required)
Versioning (with Server $5999))
Conditional Text Ease of Migration from MS Word
Single Sourcing (PDF, Printed Documentation, Mobile Help)Comments • Steep Learning Curve
• Needs Plugin Software (needs to be purchased) for Online Help
• Consistent output• Good option for PDF output
Analysis
Consolidated Comparison of ToolsTool Pric
eUpgrade Cost
Online Help Support
Versioning
Conditional Text
Ease of Migration
Mobile Help
Structured Authoring
Comments
Help and Manual
$550 $389 for Upgrade
(with Server $1295)
• Good WebHelp Output • Minimum changes required after importing
the RTF document• Supports Version when integrated Help &
Manual Server• Has inbuilt screenshot enhancer(Impict)
Help Smith
$199 $99 for Upgrade
• Supports variables, breadcrumbs, custom HTML code.
• Supports Translation (Unicode support)
Helpinator $250 $250 for Lifetime Upgrade
• Good retention of formatting when copy pasted from MS Word
• Supports Translation• Screenshot association with topics for easier
management of screenshots
Dr.Explain $249 OR $349
No Mention
• Good Online Help output• Easier organization of content• Automate the Help Authoring (Needs Setup
and Learning required)• *First Year Support is free and additional year support require purchase. Upgrade cost is from previous versions of the corresponding tool.
Tool Price Upgrade Cost
Online Help Support
Versioning
Conditional Text
Ease of Migration
Mobile Help
Structured Authoring
Comments
RoboHelp $999 $599 (with Server-$1999)
• Easier Learning Curve• Easier customization of skins and
templates• Good option for Online Help
Output
Author-IT(Client-Server)
$2000-1000 (Group of Users)
No Mention
• Ease of Use• Easily import from MS Word• Easy Documentation Management
and Content reuse
PTC Arbor Text
Secret Pricing Model
No Mention
• Automate the production with integration of CMS
• Include interactive 2D and 3D illustrations
• Easy to transfer MS Word content (Copy/Paste)
Madcap Flare $1448 No Mention
• Steep Learning Curve• Excellent output and
customizations available• Consistent output and versatile
Framemaker $999 $599 (with Plug-in)
(with Server $5999)
• Steep Learning Curve• Needs Plugin Software (needs to
be purchased) for Online Help• Consistent output• Good option for PDF output
Consolidated Comparison of Tools [Contd.]