Sandcastle, created by Microsoft, is a tool used for creating MSDN-style documentation from .NET assemblies and their associated XML comments files. The current version is the January 2008 release. It is command line based and has no GUI front-end, project management features, or an automated build process like those that you can find in NDoc. I created the Sandcastle Help File Builder to fill in the gaps and provide some of the missing NDoc-like features that I use most often, as well as provide graphical and command line based tools to build a help file in an automated fashion.
http://www.codeplex.com/SHFB
Help Authoring tool
http://www.vizacc.com/
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/chmencoder.html
http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_4_46_14054.html
NDoc generates class library documentation from .NET assemblies and the XML documentation files generated by the C# compiler (or with an add-on tool for VB.NET).
NDoc uses pluggable documenters to generate documentation in several different formats, including the MSDN-style HTML Help format (.chm), the Visual Studio .NET Help format (HTML Help 2), and MSDN-online style web pages.
http://ndoc.sourceforge.net/
Build compiled HTML help files, change attributes, date/time on multiple files, more.
http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_9_223_18625.html
http://www.doxygen.org
Script-based help processor to generate Windows help files. Free version available.
http://intellisoftchile.tripod.com/software_ht.htm
HTML Help Workshop lets you create Windows Help (HLP) files as well as Web pages that use Help-style navigational controls. Version 1.32 supports right-to-left layout and improves support for Thai language systems. It also fixes some bugs and enhances the stability of the program.
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000 Freeware
http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?67354:14475682
RTF2HLP is a Freeware tool that converts directly a Microsoft Word RTF document to a Windows Help file. The main advantage of RTF2HLP is that it converts documents without the need of any extra project files.
Writing a help file is simple as this:
1. Write your document using Microsoft Word.
2. Save it to RTF.
3. Compile it to HLP using RTF2HLP.
This also works for almost any existing document.
Special requirements: Microsoft Help Workshop.
Freeware. Gerard Chong, Ariacom SARL, gerard.chong@ariacom.com, http://www.ariacom.com/rtf2hlp/.
FAR started off life as a multi-file "Find And Replace" program. It now includes a variety of multi-file and Html tools including quick and simple generation of MS Html Help. We mainly use it for creating Html Help from large FrontPage webs. Also to does global search and replace across multiple Html files in our FrontPage webs.
FAR Features: Drop a web site onto FAR. FAR can filter out FrontPage special directories and other unwanted files and folders. Quickly create Html Help - Compressed (CHM) or Uncompressed. Report and copy all files modified between two dates. Simple and complex Search and Replace across all list files. Zip up the files in the list to a PKZIP compatible zip file. Copy all files in the list to a new location.
Special requirements: MS HTMLHelp Workshop.
Freeware. Robert Chandler, The Helpware Group. http://www.helpmaster.com/.
