Specialized viewers or browsers for displaying content. Windows operating systems are equipped with a built-in WinHelp viewer, compiled Microsoft HTML Help is displayed in a special HTML Help viewer (standard on Windows 98 and 2000, installable on earlier versions), uncompiled HTML Help and standard HTML are displayed in Java-enabled browsers such as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. JavaHelp is displayed in a special JavaHelp browser.
Viewers and browsers are customizable to define and enhance navigation.
Standardized source file formats for content development. Rich Text Formatting (.RTF) for WinHelp and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) for HTML Help, JavaHelp, and standard HTML.
Navigation is provided by hypertext links (in many forms) for accessing information.
Display images and video, play sound.
Standard Windows help formats developed by Microsoft Corporation
Compiled help format for easy distribution. WinHelp projects are compiled into .HLP files and Microsoft HTML Help files are compiled into .CHM files.
Expandable/collapsible table of contents
Full-text search
Multi-level index
Merged indexes and tables of contents
Keyword searches from index
Associative topic linking through Related Topics references (ALinks)
Topic keywords
Shortcut controls for running applications
Links to topics in opposite help formats (WinHelp topic links in HTML Help, HTML links in WinHelp)
Context-sensitive Help for fields and controls (What's This? Help) and at dialog/window level (Help buttons, F1)
Popup windows
Customizable Help viewer
Secondary windows
Display images and video, and special effects (Dynamic HTML for ActiveX-supported browsers)
Play sound
ActiveX, Java applets, and VBScript provide support for interactive forms that receive user input
Framesets to customize user interface
Display images and video, and special effects (Dynamic HTML)
Play sound
Expandable/collapsible table of contents
Context-sensitive Help at the dialog/window level
Framesets to customize user interface
Popup windows
Content pane uses HTML as its format for displaying topics. (HTML 3.2 for JavaHelp and HTML 4.0 for Microsoft HTML Help).
Expandable/collapsible table of contents
Keyword searches from index
Full-text search
Can be displayed in its own primary window or embedded in an application
Compiled and compressed Help format (Microsoft HTML Help in .CHM format, JavaHelp in .JAR format)
Allows for custom or third-party extensions (navigation controls, search engines, content viewers)
Popup windows
Content pane uses HTML as its format for displaying topics. (HTML 3.2 for Oracle Help and HTML 4.0 for Microsoft HTML Help).
Expandable/collapsible table of contents
Full-text search
Index
Compiled and compressed Help format (Microsoft HTML Help in .CHM format, Oracle Help in .JAR format)
Popup windows
Can print topic content directly from topic window
Customizable windows
Style sheet support
Can merge separate tables of contents files together and separate index files together