Free Help Writing Tools
HelpMaker
HelpMaker is a freeware help authoring tool.
Breit Technologies Applications - Help Creator
This program can be used by anyone to create a Windows Help (.hlp) file. This is an especially useful tool for software developers who want to create help files for their software in a simple fashion. It is a very simple way to produce simple but effective help files.
HtmlToHlp
HtmlToHlp is a conversion tool which translates HTML files to RTF, in order to generate Windows help files from a set of HTML files. It handles the whole conversion, including the help file compilation ! A nice replacement for complex WinHelp authoring tools : use a simple HTML editor, and make your WinHelp file with HtmlToHlp.
Microsoft HTML Help Downloads
Get the latest version of HTML Help Workshop and download the HTML Help documentation from Microsoft's website. Requires Internet Explorer.
HTML Help Switcher 1.3
HHSwitch.exe is a testing utility that allows you to switch between the various versions of HTML Help. This can be an essential tool if you want to be certain that your help files will work with different versions of HTML Help.
Shalom Help Maker
Shalom Help Maker (SHM) is a Windows help file editor that doesn't need MS Word. It supports images, popup windows, links to other pages, web pages and E-mail addresses, and has automatic updating of links when pages are rearranged, listing of unused bitmaps and popup pages, listing of links to the present page ... and lots more. SHM makes old-fashioned hlp files, not chm files (HTML based help files).
HelpMe 9
HelpMe 9 is a complete package for creating Windows Help files. Better handling of Topic ID's and Tables. No seperate rtf editor required. Includes: Syntax highlighted Topic editor, Compiler, Hotspot Editor, Topics Tree, handling of project files and user defineable help workshop. click-insert w95 .cnt contents file creation and user defineable Library of often used topic (parts);import CSV database files and plain TXT files
KeyHelp 1.2
KeyHelp is a free ActiveX control that online help authors and programmers can use to enhance the capabilities of compiled Microsoft HTML Help systems and to control the behavior of HTML Help systems in a Windows application. KeyHelp consists of a single ActiveX control that you can ship to your customers.
Cheetah 9
Cheetah 9 is an editor to create rtf Help Topic Files to be used with Microsoft's Help Workshop. Features: syntax highlighting, topics and keywords Trees, click-insert text and image hotspots, includes as a sample all files used to create the Cheetah help file. Find/Replace, Print, AutoComplete, import component source; Instant Delphi Component help; smart replace; import pascal source as rtf; import existing RTF topic files; Visual contents designer, single topic editor, autocreate project, follow link, quick preview; HelpContext Mapping and LinksTree. NEW in version 9: Export/Import chapters via XML; fast-link; improved interface.
KeyTools
KeyTools is a set of utilities for managing the HTML Help and WinHelp systems on your computer, and for optimizing those help systems for better performance. The primary focus of the KeyTools utilities is HTML Help, the Microsoft development environment for developing HTML-based help and multimedia titles.