Do you need to create an online help file that is interactive? Well, we know how challenging such a task might be and this is the reason this post will show you some of the most convenient help authoring tools, therefore, hang on and you’ll learn a lot. With these, the help files you will be able to create will be easy to follow as well as save your time while doing it.

Helpinator

helpinator

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Rating: 3.5/5

Price: Free

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This is a top of the range help authoring tool that combines several other functionalities. The tool has WYSIWYG enabled templates and thus you do not require HTML knowledge. Also, it is, capable of capturing screenshots and it is multilingual and thus if the files you for different languages need not be stored separately.

Dr.Explain

drexplain

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Rating: 3.8/5

Price: Free

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Based on an automatic analysis of the interface and screenshot capturing, this tool really simplifies the entire help authoring job. As a matter of fact, all that remains is to add a few callouts to the screenshots taken and your help file is ready and can be saved in the HTML, CHM, RTF, or PDF format.

ProProfs

proprofs

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Rating: 4/5

Price: Free Trail Available

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With the ProProfs help authoring tools, you will get an intuitive WYSIWYG editor with great functionalities. These features ensure that you will be able to make help files quickly. For long projects, you can author content with teams for faster completion, and the final results can also be published as a PDF or ebook.

Other Platform

Help authoring tools are not limited to the windows environment though the majority of the tools available belong to this category. Mostly, this also has to do with the total population that is on the platform. This post will also seek to enlighten you on some of the tools that are also available on other platforms.

WinCHM Pro for Windows

winchm

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Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

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This is a powerful yet easy to use help authoring tool. With top features such as Support Multi-select moving, changing icon, Visual CHM designer, this full-function web help creation software will for sure make your life easy when it comes to making help and documenting your work.

HelpBlocks for MAC

helpblocks

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Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Free

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The HelpBlocks help authoring tool is one of the few available to the MAC users. However, this tool is powerful and will certainly help you write HTML help rapidly. At the same time, you will be in a position to easily create a hierarchical structure appropriate for your manual.

HelpMaker Help Authoring Tool

helpmaker

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Rating: 3/5

Price: Free

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HelpMaker is easy to use Help authoring tool that makes HTML help, HTML website, WinHelp, and RTF. The tool is fully GUI enabled and the preferred choice for the majority of the developers in open-source as it is developed in Delphi.

Most Popular Software 2016 – HelpStudio

helpstudio

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Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Free

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HelpStudio is used for composing of professional end-user help for the content to the web that is up to date and accurate. The software has a complete suite of authoring support tool that includes a Project Index Editor, Glossary Editor, Imaging tools and several others to ensure the project is excellently accomplished.

What is a Help Authoring Tool?

For virtually every software product that you will encounter in the present day, there must be a help module. As a matter of fact, this module is fundamental in ensuring that the users of the product enjoy the maximum benefits and functionality of it.

To achieve this, the help function needs to be well detailed and at the same time easy to follow and use. This is where a help authoring tool comes in to allow developers of such system to document their work and also make interactive help for the user.

Help modules are important and as such the choice of the tool to do this is vital as it largely determines the outcome and usability. At the same time, with the right choice, there is a considerable amount of time saving as well as ease on the side of the developer.

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