How do I create Help topics for my macros in my Word template?

[Jack]

I've created a number of macros and AutoText entries in my Word template.
I've added toolbars and menus to make it easier for other users to use these
tools.

The template is being used by many other people in my workgroup. Some of
them have only the very basic Word skills and have never used macros,
AutoText entries, or Styles. I don't have time to conduct training courses on
these items. I would like to provide some online help so my users know more
about the added features I have created within this template.

How do I create some help topics that become available to my users? Can I
store the help information with the template or do I need to keep it separate
on the shared workgroup drive?

 

[zkid]

Are you looking to

1. create a help topic when a user executes a macro, or
2. provide something that the users can retrieve to see what macros are
available and what they do?

If 1., then you can just create a button on the macro userform titled "Help"
and provide the user with either a msgbox full of help text or print off a
document if you'd rather.

If 2., I provide online tutorials for my users selected from a listbox. For
example, they execute a macro called "Online Tutorials." The macro then
lists all of the available tutotorials. They just need to select one of the
tutorials, and it is a Word document that is retrieved onto their screen.
They can choose to peruse it on the screen or print it out. These tutorials
are exhaustive and contain screen snapshots, etc. You can keep these types
of docs on the server.

Hope this helps

 

[Jack]

Thanks for the reply. I may try your solution from 2, but I was thinking
about something that used the same GUI as the Microsoft Help. I would prefer
to develop the help as I develop or modify the macros and AutoText entries.

I tend to add things to my template and would like to keep with the template
some explanation about what I've added.

I use the F1 help in Office a lot. I was thinking I would like to enter a
keyword for one of my macros and see a help topic with an example or how to
steps show up.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Thanks for the reply. I may try your solution from 2, but I was thinking
about something that used the same GUI as the Microsoft Help. I would prefer
to develop the help as I develop or modify the macros and AutoText entries.

I tend to add things to my template and would like to keep with the template
some explanation about what I've added.

I use the F1 help in Office a lot. I was thinking I would like to enter a
keyword for one of my macros and see a help topic with an example or how to
steps show up.

Hi Jack,

I don't think you have any idea how much work is involved in preparing
and maintaining that kind of help if you're going to do it well -- but
if you want to give it a go, the tool you need is the HTML Help
Workshop. Start at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011362801033.aspx. The
Workshop itself can be downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/office/orkarchive/XPddl.htm. There's
documentation with it, and there are plenty of tutorials on the Web
that you can find with Google.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[zkid]

I'm with Jay. There are apps available for purchase to make the job easier,
but they are costly.

Here's another related site to those listed by Jay below:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;189086

Let us know what you decide to do. It could help another user.

zkid

 

[Jack]

Thanks for the help. I'll check into those sites.