Online Help is topic, procedural or reference information delivered through computer software. Most Help is designed to give assistance in the use of a software application or operating system, but can also be used to present information on a broad range of subjects. When Help is linked to the state of application (what user is doing), it's called context-sensitive Help.

Online Help is created through Help authoring tools. It is delivered in a wide variety of formats, some proprietary and some open-standard, including:

• Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)
• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
• Microsoft Assistance Markup Language (MAML)
• Microsoft WinHelp (.HLP)
• Microsoft Compressed HTML Help (.CHM)
• Microsoft Help 1.0 (no longer in development)
• Microsoft Help 2.0 (no longer in development; used to provide Help with .NET)
• Mac OS X Help (.HELP)
• Sun JavaHelp (.js)

External links

• EServer TC Library: Online Help
• HAT Comparison Matrix
• Technical Writing Tips and Articles

Technical communication

Aide en ligne