Overview

Blue Sky Software originally developed RoboHelp. Then, Blue Sky Software changed its name to eHelp. eHelp was then purchased by Macromedia. Macromedia was then purchased by Adobe. (http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/acquisition.html)

RoboHelp is now an Adobe product; however, I have not heard that Adobe has any plans to release a new version. Therefore, Macromedia's last version, X5, may be the last release of RoboHelp. Talk within the community is leaning towards the sun setting of RoboHelp. RoboHelp alternatives must now be a consideration when starting any new online documentation project.

Before investigating alternatives to RoboHelp, you should first understand some of the features and functionality that RoboHelp offers. RoboHelp basically consists of two products: RoboHelp for Word (RoboHelp Classic) and RoboHelp HTML.

RoboHelp for Word

• Creates WinHelp files
• Creates HTML Help and WebHelp
• Runs inside of Microsoft Word

RoboHelp HTML

• Cannot create WinHelp files
• Creates HTML Help and WebHelp
• Does not run inside of Word
  (it has its own HTML editor)
• Is much more commonly used
  than RoboHelp for Word

Output Formats

There are several output
formats that are available with RoboHelp. They are:

• WinHelp
• HTML Help
• WebHelp
• FlashHelp
• XML
• HTML
• Oracle Help
• JavaHelp
• Printed Documents (Word/PDF)

Of the output formats, the
following are the three primary formats used by RoboHelp:

WinHelp

• Created by Microsoft
• Compiled into a single file with
  an .HLP extension
• Runs locally in Windows
• Was replaced by RoboHelp HTML
  about eight years ago, but is still used

HTML Help

• Created by Microsoft
• Compiled into a single file
  with a .CHM extension
• Runs locally in Windows

WebHelp

• Created by eHelp (now Adobe)
• Not compiled into one file –
  it is deployed to the server in the form of several HTML files
• Runs locally in Windows or
  from the Web