As I described in the Introduction, this article is a formal record of what I did to create a high-quality HTML Help file and PDF User's Guide for a commercial product that is, as I write this, in the process of being released into the retail market.

 

I created this record in part because if I needed to create another help file in the future -- and I have no way of knowing how long that might be -- it would give me reference material to refer back to to refresh my memory, or indeed to simply use as a checklist.

 

However, as I was searching on the web looking for clues as to what good Help-Authoring tools were available, and how I should be approaching my Help-File project to get it done as efficiently as possible without compromising quality, I did not find even one single good article about "How to Build an HTML Help File" or even anything close to it.  So I decided to blaze a trail and leave a map that others could follow.

 

This is now my record (and my checklist) for all my future Help projects.

 

(If you have not already done so, please study carefully the Definitions page before proceeding with the rest of the article.)