Help file
A help file is included documentation of a software that is accessible during program use.
The help file provides the user with an interactive table of contents. Hyperlinks are also used in the texts themselves , which refer to other areas in the help. With many programs it can be called up via the help menu of a software or the hotkey most often used for it F1.
Some programs also offer context-sensitive help , which displays a help button in almost every dialog box . If you press it, the program opens the help on the appropriate page or a tooltip is already displayed when you move the mouse pointer over the corresponding element.
Nowadays help files are mostly structured topic-oriented . Each help page deals with a topic that is as self-contained as possible, for example the description of a window.
Some software help is also offered in the form of HTML files that can be viewed in a web browser . Here, too, it is often possible to jump to the relevant help page directly from the program using a hotkey or another function. This procedure is particularly common for programs that are platform-independent and designed for different operating systems with different help systems of their own.
Help formats
Help files are available in the following formats, among others:
- AmigaGuide
- JavaHelp
- WinHelp
- Apple Help
- HTML Help
- WebHelp
- Oracle Help for Java
- FlashHelp
- Help 2.0
- CP / M Help
- Help library for VMS