The next generation of Microsoft WinHelp 4.0 is ready and able to deliver the best in online documentation for the Internet. HTML Help blends rich visuals, HTML, and Web technologies such as ActiveX, Java, JavaScript, and Microsoft VBScript to allow authors to offer an interactive help experience. Best of all, HTML Help combines this valuable tool set with quality desktop publication layout capabilities using cascading style sheets to create the ideal environment for authors creating online Help, multimedia titles, or Web sites.

HTML Help enhances the rich feature set of WinHelp including tables of contents, keyword index, and full-text search, and combines it with content written in HTML. In addition, HTML Help offers tools such as Dialog Box Help Editor, which makes it much easier to create context-sensitive Help without developer support. And because HTML Help is cross-platform and open, it supports whatever version of HTML you need to author your system.

HTML Help technology consists of the following components:

• HTML Help ActiveX Control. Lets you insert navigation control such as a tables of contents, indexes, pop-ups, related information, and shortcuts into an HTML file. You can also add other functionality, such as an initial splash-screens and version dialog boxes.
• Compressed HTML. Combines all sources (HTML, ActiveX Controls, ActiveX Scripting, Java applets, graphics, multimedia, full-text search indexes, keywords, and more) and compresses them into a single file, which greatly reduces the amount of disk space required for your HTML files.
• Microsoft HTML Help Workshop. Enables you to edit your table of contents, index, and HTML files, taking much of the work out of creating and maintaining an HTML Help project.
• HTML Help Authoring DLL. Allows you to view detailed information for entries in the table of contents. This is very useful when you are trying to locate an HTML document linked from an entry in your contents.
• Layout Engine. Lets you use any browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02, or application that supports ActiveX.
• HTML Help Window. Lets authors display their HTML files in a customized, resizable window, independent of the user's browser.
• Microsoft Flash. Allows you to convert exisiting bitmaps and metafiles to GIF and JPEG formats, create USEMAP coordinates, perform screen captures, and more.