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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    Some weeks ago, I complained about XaraX still using the ugly and archaic Windows Help system, instead of HTM. But I got shouted down by both Xara and a few users. Today, I get my Photoshop 6 upgrade (a truly great upgrade, go and get it!), and discover to my delight that at least Adobe agrees with me - witness the lovely Help page attached below. Unlike XaraX's wordy, graphics-depleted Help, they have plenty of highly instructive screenshots. And they have a fine search system, too!

    But then, what does Adobe know when it comes to software?


    K

    [This message was edited by Klaus Nordby on December 09, 2000 at 11:04 AM.]
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    K
    www.klausnordby.com/xara (big how-to article)
    www.xaraxone.com/FeaturedArt/kn/ (I was the first-ever featured artist in the Xone)
    www.graphics.com (occasional columnist, "The I of The Perceiver")



  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Norway & Sweden & USA
    Posts
    1,233

    Default

    Some weeks ago, I complained about XaraX still using the ugly and archaic Windows Help system, instead of HTM. But I got shouted down by both Xara and a few users. Today, I get my Photoshop 6 upgrade (a truly great upgrade, go and get it!), and discover to my delight that at least Adobe agrees with me - witness the lovely Help page attached below. Unlike XaraX's wordy, graphics-depleted Help, they have plenty of highly instructive screenshots. And they have a fine search system, too!

    But then, what does Adobe know when it comes to software?


    K

    [This message was edited by Klaus Nordby on December 09, 2000 at 11:04 AM.]
    K
    www.klausnordby.com/xara (big how-to article)
    www.xaraxone.com/FeaturedArt/kn/ (I was the first-ever featured artist in the Xone)
    www.graphics.com (occasional columnist, "The I of The Perceiver")



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Hautes Pyrénées, France
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    5,083

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    Well they know how to keep the price of a world-beating graphics app (and, yes, it is brilliant) in the 'professional' range whilst still managing to sell bucketloads of it so making a handsome profit and being able to afford to spend time on a fancy help gui.

    Any comments, Xara? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
    If someone tried to make me dig my own grave I would say No.
    They're going to kill me anyway and I'd love to die the way I lived:
    Avoiding Manual Labour.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    Norway & Sweden & USA
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    Default

    Big Frank, I like your Frankness! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

    K
    K
    www.klausnordby.com/xara (big how-to article)
    www.xaraxone.com/FeaturedArt/kn/ (I was the first-ever featured artist in the Xone)
    www.graphics.com (occasional columnist, "The I of The Perceiver")



  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
    Posts
    192

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    Their help system is NOT earth shattering nore is it original. I'm not impressed. Its just HTML!

    XaraX will have context sensitive on-line *Multimedia* help (when the CD arrives) and THAT is not only original but much more impressive also. It's easier to learn, easier to use, and no need to follow ENDLESS links with the HTML help.

    Just site back and watch XARAX "show" you how to use it's features. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] It just does not get any better then that IMHO! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

    The BEST is good enough!
    The BEST is good enough!

  6. #6

    Default

    Hello

    I have had Photoshop 6 for the last 5 or 6 weeks.

    If you can get help by pressing F1, then you are one of the lucky ones. A lot of people on the Adobe forum cannot get it to work. I cannot UNLESS my browser is open. If I do not have a running browser I do not get help.

    Think of all the resources that have to be given up to run IE5 or other, just to get help.

    Personally I find it useless as it is just the Photoshop book in HTML format. The XARA help has much more information in it.

    Also as far as I can tell the Photoshop help is not context sensitive.

    Actually I have removed everything to do with Adobe Online.

    I also hope that you are one of the lucky ones(I am) that is not having trouble with running Photoshop 6. There have been problems with networks and removable media.

    Mike Engles

  7. #7

    Default

    Hello

    I just did an experiment.
    I have XaraX open and used system monitor to show me the free ram. I opened WINDOWS help. The available ram fell by 1 MB.

    I opened IE5 and the available ram fell by 7 MB.

    Mike Engles

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    30

    Default

    I don't understand the argument that Xara should use html for their help system. Both Windows Help and html are means of delivering hypertext. Windows Help is more efficient because it is specifically designed for help systems. Html is not particularly good at anything and the standard spends most of its time trying to catch up with the latest fads in Web design. However, if this discussion is about the style of Xara help, then the means of implementing it doesn't make any difference.

    Personally, I think Xara's help is one of the best in the business. The balance of text and graphics suits me fine (there are dozens of helpful pictures by the way). Klaus' example from Photoshop demonstrates a common failing with graphics-heavy help systems, pictures are included that add nothing to the information content. For example, above the no doubt useful captions "The slice tool creates slices" and "The slice selection tool selects slices" are pictures that do nothing to explain what slicing is about.

    A well chosen picture can speak a thousand words, but irrelevant pictures simply drive users to the dozens of expensive books that explain (in words) how to use Photoshop.

    Tom

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    Norway & Sweden & USA
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    Default

    A. I'm an artist and designer. How things LOOK is IMPORTANT to me. WinHelp LOOKS crummy, whereas HTM-help can be made to LOOK good - and hence more pleasureable to use. Who cares about a measly 8Mb of RAM these days???

    B. I never said Adobe had done anything original or brilliant. I just pointed out that, thankfully, they have now abandoned WinHelp - and that their choice is a GOOD one for people who like to have nice things to look at. I can even change all the font specs and colors of their Help, just by editing the master CSS file!

    C. But since there's no use in arguing with semi-blind people over the proper presentation of visual-verbal information, I'll now withdraw from this debate.


    K
    K
    www.klausnordby.com/xara (big how-to article)
    www.xaraxone.com/FeaturedArt/kn/ (I was the first-ever featured artist in the Xone)
    www.graphics.com (occasional columnist, "The I of The Perceiver")



  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Lansing, NY
    Posts
    9

    Default

    I'm afraid in help systems you are outmaneuvered. Ask yourself; what is Help's primary function? It is to help the user of course. Winhelp is specifically designed for help systems, and its facilities are better suited for them than HTML's. How Winhelp looks is completely irrelevant; it does what it's supposed to do more effectively than anything else out there. Plus, it's standardized, which makes it more accessible to users who may not be familiar with XaraX's help system. These are often the people who need the most help. System resources, while not a concern for powerful workstations, are often a concern for those using borderline systems, often because they're only casual users; again, the people who need help most. I have yet to find an HTML help system that is both comprehensive and comprehensible.

 

 

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