Help & Manual is an authoring tool designed for Windows which enables you to create help files for software applications, such as Winhelp, HTML HELP and PDF user documentation.
The interface of the program is similar to the one of a word processing tool, such as Microsoft Word. It contains modern elements, including a ribbon bar.
So, you can create a compiled HTML help file (CHM), Winhelp source file (HPJ), RTF document with Microsoft Word, HelpScribble project, regular HTML and text file, RoboHelp for an HTML project file, as well as a Sandcastle documentation file.
Help & Manual provides you with several customization options; you can get started by specifying the source file or folder and output destination, after which you can configure import settings.
For instance, you can make the first heading tag go into the header of a HTML help file, import invisible block elements and make them visible, as well as make Help & Manual ignore internal folders and import the topic with the page name only.
The word processing tool allows you to customize font settings, import tables, links, images and various objects (e.g. mathematical symbols). Plus, you can use the undo and redo functions, change the interface style and language, specify the default image editor, customize the ribbon bar, reconfigure keyboard shortcuts, as well as use a screen as a reference device for the PDF output, just to name a few.
Help & Manual requires a high amount of system resources, includes user documentation, and has a good response time. We have not come across any issues during our evaluation. However, first-time users may need some time to get familiarized with the advanced settings provided by this app, while skilled users should be thrilled by the multitude of customization preferences available through Help & Manual.
