Development Windows
HelpSmith for Windows
Write help topics once and publish CHM help, Web Help, PDF manuals and other documentation with HelpSmith, a commercial Windows help authoring tool with a free trial.
Version 11.1 (Build 26.1015) · Direct publisher file
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What is HelpSmith?
HelpSmith is a Windows help authoring tool for technical writers and developers who need to maintain application help and manuals from one project. Its topic editor combines word-processing controls, spell checking and reusable styles with a table of contents, index and shared media repository. The publisher lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and provides an EXE installer.
A single source project can produce CHM help, responsive Web Help, printed manuals, PDF, Microsoft Word, ePub and Markdown documentation. Existing Word, RTF, HTML, CHM and HTML Help Workshop projects can be imported instead of retyped. Build tags support different audience-specific outputs, while the built-in image tool captures screenshots and adds annotations for documenting an application's interface.
HelpSmith is commercial software with a free trial, not a free-license editor. A per-seat license must not be used on more than one computer simultaneously; terminal-server deployments require floating licenses. Consult the publisher's edition comparison before purchasing, since Standard, Professional, Ultimate and Terminal Server editions have different licensing or feature options.
What it offers
- Publish CHM, Web Help, PDF, printed manuals, Word, ePub and Markdown from one source project.
- Edit topics with a word processor, spell checker, reusable styles, table of contents and index tools.
- Import existing Word, RTF, HTML, CHM and HTML Help Workshop content.
- Capture application screenshots and add annotations with the built-in image tool.
- Use build tags for audience-specific documentation and export topic headers for context-sensitive help integration.
Good to know
- A per-seat license cannot be used on more than one computer simultaneously; terminal-server use requires floating licenses.
- Multiple editions are sold; check the publisher's feature comparison rather than assuming every edition includes every tool.
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Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
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