Advantages of using HTML Help

HTML Help files can be stored on either a Web server or a network file share. If they are stored on either of these, the following advantages apply:

• You can update Help content in one place and not have to worry about deploying or updating it on individual computers.
• No hard-disk space is required on a user's computer.
• If you already have a Web-based Help site, you can use its contents to create the custom AW file.
• You do not have to register Web-based Help on each user's computer.
• HTML Help does not require a hosted Web site to display Help content.

Disadvantages to using HTML Help files include the following:

• If you use HTML Help files hosted on a Web site, users must have access to the Web.
• If a Web server is used to host the Help files, you must also maintain the Web server and site.
• If a Web server or network file server share is used, users might experience slow response times when they submit queries due to network traffic or Web site loading.

Advantages of using compressed HTML Help (CHM)

A CHM file is a compressed HTML Help metafile. You can take the equivalent of an entire Web site and compile it into a CHM. It uses a special technology to combine HTML files into one file with a special directory, index, and file structure similar to a compressed drive. A CHM file can only be read by the HTML Help system and Microsoft Internet Explorer. CHM files are created by HTML Help Workshop and require creating a special project and build area where you create and organize Help topics in HTML format.

Access to CHM files can be obtained through a network share or locally on a user's computer. CHM files offer the following advantages over other file types:

• CHM files can be compressed, taking up less hard-disk space and providing more portability than an entire Web site.
• Users get faster results when the CHM file is stored locally.
• A single CHM file can contain an entire Web site of HTML files.
• Users do not need access to the Web or the network.

Disadvantages to using CHM files include the following:

• You must redeploy them to each client computer whenever you update the content.
• You are required to register the CHM before it can be used.

  However, once it is registered, it does not need to be registered again.

• You are required to recompile the file every time a change is made to the Help system.
• CHM files take up hard-disk space on the user's computer.

The rule of thumb for creating CHM files is based on how often your Help will change. If your Help changes frequently, it is probably better to leave your Help in HTML pages and post them on a file server where everyone can gain access to them, and where you can update them easily.

If your content rarely changes, you can create CHM files with Microsoft HTML Help Workshop. This compresses the HTML pages and makes a nice, portable single file for your Help system.