Hyperviews:Online Archives

These archives provide previous issues of the print Hyperviews and Hyperviews:Online. 

Originally prepared by David Owens

South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter

Please note that contact information (especially e-mail addresses and URLs!) are subject to change. We only guarantee that these were active at the time of publication. 

Hyperviews:Online

Hyperviews (print issues)

Volume 5- 2002

Feature
Web Accessibility: Designing Your Web Site for the Visually-Impaired Screen readers used by blind and visually-impaired people to navigate the Web look at an HTML file displayed as a Web page on a computer, and synthetically speak exactly what the HTML file tells them. Problems can occur when Web designers include graphics. With a little additional work, designers can produce accessible pages and make graphics work for visually-impaired people.

Feature
Online Information Sessions at the 2002 STC Conference Online help and online tool and technology sessions at this year's national conference.

Column - Practical Magic
Issues In Link Planning and Design Links are so new that they are still evolving. Designers continue to struggle with three questions about links: What level of terms should I link? How many links should I have in a topic? and Where should I put the links? Because there are no single correct answers to these questions, this column examines the benefits and drawbacks of various approaches and provides information to help determine the answer that best works for you.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
The Reluctant Student Reluctant students - those not wanting to take a class - can be the most difficult to reach; yet the success of your training course can hinge on engaging them. Students can be reluctant for a variety of reasons. Learn several techniques to help address reluctant learners.

Web Review
Know Your Audience An investment company's Web site provides numerous impediments to a successful user experience.

SIG Manager's Message
Call for volunteers to fill SIG positions and Hyperviews:Online staff positions.

Letter from the Editor
Rewards of the mentor/protégé relationship and a call for articles for Hyperviews:Online.

Volume 4 - 2001

Feature
JavaServer Pages for Technical Writers: Making Your Documentation Do More JavaServer Pages (JSP) enable you to present dynamically customized content in your documentation based on the needs of a particular user. Among the many other possible uses are: creating an automatic glossary, tracking users' navigation through help topics, and automatically adding content specific reader feedback forms to pages.

Tutorial
Using JavaServer Pages with WebWorks Publisher By creating custom JavaServer Page (JSP) conditional text tags in FrameMaker and setting your WebWorks Publisher project to process the JSP code, you can create JavaServer Pages and printed documentation from a single source document. This tutorial guides you through the process step-by-step.

Column - Practical Magic
Specifying Standards for Topic Length When creating online help topics what is the ideal length? Should a maximum length be defined? Learn the difference between single-window and multiple-window length.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Technical Training Resources Web sites and discussion lists relevant to technical training.

Web Review
Practice Versus Preachings Jakob Nielsen recommends how to make your Web site usable. Does he follow those recommendations? Find out in this review of his Web site.

Book Review
Special Section on Computer Security and Privacy Reviews of five books and booksets concerning security and privacy issues in the information age.

SIG Manager's Message
Call for article authors, columnists, and other contributors.

Letter from the Editor
Looking back to first experiences on the Web and looking forward to next year.

Report
2001 SIG Meeting Report Special offers for SIG members and organizing an Online SIG issue of Technical Communication.

Column - Practical Magic
Decompiling Help How to break down a WinHelp HLP/CNT or an HTML Help CHM into its source files. What to expect when using various popular tools to decompile help files. Interpreting results and what to do after you successfully decompile a help file.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Training and Technical Writing Examining the similarities and differences between general corporate training and specific technical training. Both types fall under the principles of instructional design, but experience in subject matter offers creators of technical training the opportunity to take shortcuts in the instructional design process.

SIG Manager's Message
Assembling a group of authors for an Online Information SIG edition of
Technical Communication focussing on embedded Help. Also, looking for stories about your first experience with the Web.

Letter from the Editor
Reflecting on the STC conference in Chicago and introducing the Online Information SIG poll. 

Spring
(June 2001)
Volume 4/Issue 2

Feature
Post-Conference: A First Timer's Half Week "Off" This year's conference offered a multitude of sessions about the tools and practices of our trade, a chance to briefly explore Chicago, and a valuable lesson about how much we can learn from our colleagues.

Feature
Section 508 and Why It Matters Section 508 of the United States Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandated that by this year, all electronic and information technology (EIS) procured by the federal government must be accessible to people with disabilities. Learn how Section 508 could eventually impact all software manufacturers, why it makes business sense to comply with it, and a game plan for how to do so. 

Resource
Online Information Glossary Your input is requested for a new resource for students and those new to the online information profession.

Column - Practical Magic
Converting WinHelp to HTML-Based Help Mainstream help authoring tools can make conversion mechanics simple; however, conversion goals, legacy code, design issues, and single sourcing considerations can create stumbling blocks. Creating a sample project before the actual conversion can help avoid pitfalls.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Why Train at All? Viewing training as a preference rather than a necessity can lead to "hybrid" training solutions. These novel approaches include basing training around product documentation instead of creating training materials, and requiring mastery of basic concepts via Web-based training as a prerequisite for hands-on workshops.

Book Review
Creating Effective JavaHelp Recommended for learning the nuts and bolts of JavaHelp - the book's hands-on sections make up for weaknesses in other areas. 

SIG Manager's Message
Looking Forward to the annual conference in Chicago and calling for contributors to Hyperviews:Online.

Letter from the Editor
Hyperviews:Online has a new URL, a new look, and some new staff members. 

Winter
(February 2001)
Volume 4/Issue 1

Feature
Copyright Issues for Online Materials Details the types of materials that can and cannot be copyrighted, rights of copyright holders, and guidelines for "anyone publishing or wanting to use online information."

Book Review
Teach Yourself RoboHELP 2000 for HTML Help  A good source for quickly getting up to speed on the popular help authoring tool.

SIG Manager's Message
Call for Volunteers to join the Hyperviews:Online staff.

Letter from the Editor
Introduction of new staff members.

Volume 3 - 2000

Summer
(August 2000)
Volume 3/Issue 3

Feature
Winhelp-L Tries on a New HATT History of the Winhlp-L list and the transition to the HATT (Help Authoring Tools and Technologies) e-group.

Report
2000 SIG Meeting Report  Identifying new activities for the Online Information SIG.

Column - Beyond the Bleeding Edge
Catching Up to the Future Part 2 Sorting out terminology among different HATs. Examining Web-based help, new markup languages, and new help design approaches.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Learn by Learning Examining various Web-based training courses to discover how simple design and execution can still be effective.

SIG Manager's Message
Chapter lists of Online Information SIG members and upcoming regional conferences.

Letter from the Editor
The first issue of Hyperviews:Online is now available in the archive in .hlp format. Looking ahead to the next issue.

Spring
(May 2000 post-conference edition)
Volume 3/Issue 2

Feature
Rethinking Online Courses A case study in re-engineering a traditional classroom course for online use.

Feature
Online Information Sessions at the 2000 STC Conference Online help and online tool and technology sessions.

Column - Beyond the Bleeding Edge
Catching Up to the Future Part 1 Examining semantic differences among HTML help platforms. Looking at third party and Java based help formats.

Book Review
The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places The way people treat devices can have implications for technical communicators.

SIG Manager’s Message
Preparing for the 2000 STC National Conference.

Letter from the Editor
Experimenting with pre- and post-conference issues of Hyperviews:Online.

Spring
(May 2000
pre-conference edition)
Volume 3/Issue 2

Feature
Online Information Sessions at the 2000 STC Conference Online help and online tool and technology sessions.

Book Review
The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places The way people treat devices can have implications for technical communicators.

SIG Manager’s Message
Preparing for the 2000 STC National Conference.

Letter from the Editor
Experimenting with pre- and post-conference issues of Hyperviews:Online.

Winter
(March 2000)
Volume 3/Issue 1

Feature
Delivering 99.9% Single-Source Documentation  Experiences, strategies, and lessons learned from implementing a plan to output both print and online deliverables from a single FrameMaker source document.

Feature
The AXAPTA Help System: Its Design and Implementation Examining the challenges of creating and implementing customizable help for a business application.

Feature
Online versus On-line Where the English language is headed in the high tech era.

Column - Beyond the Bleeding Edge
21st Century "Clippy" Will the help of the future be delivered to the user via social interfaces such as virtual characters or "people"?

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Taking the mystique (and cost) out of online training When and why you might want to create an online course from a PowerPoint presentation.

Book Review
What Can We Learn About Navigation Three new books offer a variety of information about what constitutes usable, effective Web site design.

SIG Manager’s Message
Completing the online membership database.

Letter from the Editor
Time management for the technical communicator.

Volume 2 - 1999

Fall
(November 1999)
Volume 2/Issue 4

Interview
An Interview with Bill McLain, Xerox Webmaster Find out how a technical communicator became Webmaster at Xerox. Learn about his duties and his favorite and least favorite parts of the job.

Feature
How to Promote Your Web site with Search Engines Ten recommendations for promoting your Web site with search engines.

Column - Beyond the Bleeding Edge
eBooks Overview of eBook standards, vendors, and technology. Examination of implications of eBooks for technical communicators.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Alternatives to "Death by PowerPoint" Creating engaging, interactive training sessions that use PowerPoint not as a crutch, but as a tool in combination with exercises and activities.

Book Review
International User Interfaces Provocative ideas in a broad introduction to international communication in user interfaces.

SIG Manager’s Message
Online SIG grows internationally.

Letter from the Editor
Thanks to all those who helped produce this issue.

Summer
(August 1999)
Volume 2/Issue 3

Feature
Indexing Online Now is the time for experimenting with different techniques to maintain the usability of print indexes online.

Feature
Opera is Sweet Music Out of Cacophony Introduction to the compact, fast, and full-featured new voice emerging in the browser wars.

Column - Beyond the Bleeding Edge
Electronic Ink The technology behind electronic ink and its implications for technical documentation.

Column - The Reluctant Trainer
Introduction to the Reluctant Trainer Looking at ways to improve performance through training, whether it be instructor-led or an alternative method.

Book Review
Standards for Online Communication An overview of researching, designing, and implementing all types of online documentation, from help systems to intranet pages.

SIG Manager’s Message
Looking forward to the next issue.

Letter from the Editor
Attending a workshop on "Audience and Task Analysis for the Age of the World Wide Web."

Spring
(June 1999)
Volume 2/Issue 2

Feature
What Makes a Web Site Credible? Creating an "ethos of credibility" both in content and design.

Feature
Using Lotus Notes as a Technical Communicator Pre-considerations, strengths and weaknesses, and examples of using this groupware as a documentation tool.

Feature
Reflections on the Annual Conference, Polka Bands, and the Smell of Fear Constant change the norm for technical communicators.

Column - Online Graphics
Techniques for using graphics effectively in WinHelp or HTML documentation, from scaling to using effects such as call-outs.

Book Review
Web Design in a Nutshell An excellent resource for both new and experienced Web writers. Quickly learn about new Web technologies and how to use them to create effective, readable Web pages.

SIG Manager’s Message
Discounts for SIG members and call for articles.

Letter from the Editor
Enthusiasm at Hyperviews:Online, in life, and at the STC Conference.

Winter
(March 1999)
Volume 2/Issue 1

Feature
Smart Browsing: Surfing Simplified Netscape speeds and eases Web browsing by capitalizing on organized information and services. New features allow filtering, enable easy access to related sites, and let users to enter intuitive Web addresses (instead of full URLs) when surfing.

Feature
Creating Secure Areas on Your Web Site How to use JavaScript to set up password-protected areas on a Web site.

Feature
WinWriters Conference '99 Highlights and observations from the annual conference for help authors.

Column - MultiMedia
Tips and Tricks for Using AVIs in Online Tutorials How to use audio and video files in your tutorials.

Column - Internet
What's a WUI? Designing an effective "Web site User Interface."

Book Review
The Official Microsoft HTML Help Authoring Kit Already dated, but a good introduction to HTML Help and HTML Help Workshop for non-programmers.

SIG Manager’s Message
Thank you for to all who answered call for volunteers in previous issue. Update on status of SIG member database.

Letter from the Editor
Moving forward: call for input and thanks to contributors.

Volume 1 - 1998

Fall
(November 1998)
Volume 1/Issue 4

Feature
Help Engine Scorecard Tracking and comparing the features of available help engine technology.

Feature
2nd Annual Help Technology Update Conference Highlights from the conference for help authors.

Column - Internet
Where Does Technical Communication End and Technology Development Begin? Where does the increasing merging of development with documentation content leave the technical communicator?

Column - Online Graphics
Color Depth Overview of color depth, file size, and image quality.

Column - Education
Using Online Resources to Maintain User Knowledge Breaking down training into three areas: competency training, perpetual training, and resolution training.

SIG Manager’s Message
Call for volunteers for Hyperviews:Online and assembling the membership database.

Letter from the Editor
Changes to the Hyperviews:Online site.

Summer
(August 1998)
Volume 1/Issue 3

Feature
Guidelines for Web Design Useful steps for designing, posting, and updating Web pages.

Feature
Developing Java-Based Help Differences between three Java-based help systems and how to get started creating Java-based help.

Column - Online Graphics
Introduction to Online Graphics Introduces general graphic formats, WinHelp formats, and HTML formats. 

Column - Education
Using the Web to Enhance Training Creating a Web-based tutorial.

Book Review
Deconstructing Web Graphics Case studies and tutorials provide meaningful taste of what's involved when designing Web sites and graphics.

SIG Manager’s Message
Online Information SIG continues to grow.

Letter from the Editor
New Design for Hyperviews:Online.

Spring
(May 1998)
Volume 1/Issue 2

Feature
Reflections on Online Learning A technical communicator's experiences with online learning: requires discipline and can be somewhat isolating, but still recommended. 

Feature
Going the Distance Learning new software and obtaining textbooks prove to be no obstacle in obtaining a degree from the University of Phoenix.

Feature
A Teacher's Perspective - George Hayhoe Professor of graduate level online courses details differences between teaching online and traditional classes, course materials and technology he uses, how he interacts with students, and implications of online learning for teachers of technical communication.

Feature
A Teacher's Perspective - Roger Grice Professor of distance classes via video details advantages and disadvantages of distance teaching, differences between teaching distance and traditional classes, and implications of distance learning for teachers of technical communication.

Book Review
Two new books offer style information for help authors.

Column - Dr. Bill Warner
Ever Changing World of the Online Help Developer Tools and technology for help authoring changes constantly, but the need for core technical writing skills remains unchanged.

SIG Manager’s Message
Archives of Hyperviews:Online will soon be available.

Letter from the Editor
Previewing this issue.

Winter
(February 1998)
Volume 1/Issue 1

Feature
WebHelp - A Cross Platform Solution R&D Manager for Blue Sky software discusses their new browser-independent HTML based help format.

Feature
The Future of Online Help Notes from the 1997 Help Technology Conference.

Book Review
Call for book reviews.

SIG Manager’s Message
Keeping the Online Information SIG's Web site accessible.

To view the individual HTML articles from an issue, click on the links in the right-hand column.

Winter 1996
Volume 3/Issue 4
3.2 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
Usability? What’s That? What you can learn by performing usability tests.

Manager’s Moment
Gearing Up For a New Year Plans for PIC in 1997.

WinHelp "How To"
Is Your Help System Usable? Checklist for evaluating and improving the usability of a help system.

Web "How To"
Why Frames Suck (Most of the Time) Explanation of the fundamental problems with using frames.

Birds of a Feather
WinWriters and Digitex to Hold European Windows Help Conference Agenda for the Windows Help Conference--Europe 97.
ACM SIGDOC Announces 1997 Conference Agenda for the SIGDOC/IEEE conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 19-20.

PIC News
A Few Nice Words … From Nice People Like You Letters from our readers.

Tools, Trends, and Other Such Things
Help University Announces Training Network Help University is a training, consulting, and management group dedicated to furthering the interests and growth of the WinHelp industry.
KNOWware to Develop Microsoft HTML Help Courseware This is for use by employees, contractors, and agents of Microsoft Corp. The courseware will also be publicly available at the release of HTML Help.

Book Review
Handbook of Usability Testing A great text for getting a handle on what usability testing is and how to go about it.

Software Review
Adobe Acrobat Pro Version 2.1 A view on the suitability if not usability, of Acrobat as an online publishing tool.

Fall 1996
Volume 3/Issue 3
3.2 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
What Does Tomorrow Bring (Today)? All the new things we must learn to keep up with technology.

Manager’s Moment
Wanted: Anyone Want To Help Me Get Online? Use the Online Information PIC to learn more about an area of information development and to share new ideas or processes with others.

WinHelp "How To"
Help Author Reaction To HTML Help and NetHelp: This One, That One, Any One? Help authors compare and react to NetHelp and HTML Help 

Web "How To"
Is HTML the UNIX Help Solution? Advantages and disadvantages of using the HTML help solution for UNIX 

Birds of a Feather
Microsoft Announces HTML Help Prebeta at JumpStart Conference A recap of the Help JumpStart Conference held on September 25, 1996.
Help University Conference Focuses on WinHelp and HTML A recap of the second annual WinHelp Developers Conference.

PIC News
We’re Moving HyperViews to the WEB: Do You Want to Help? Looking for help to put HyperViews on the Web.

Tools, Trends, and Other Such Things
Microsoft Releases HTML Help Beta The new HTML-based help Software Development Kit that replaces Microsoft's WinHelp 4.0.
WinHelp Resource CD-ROM Available from Weisner Associates The CD includes demos, samples, free versions, reference information, decompiler software, WinHelp extensions, and discounts on popular Help authoring tools.

Book Review
The Web Design Cookbook This book is a good place to start to learn abut basic web concepts and design strategies.

Software Review
WinHelp-to-HTML Conversion Tools: First Step to Help on the Web A comparison of WexTech's HelpSite, Blue Sky's Help-to-HTML Converter, and ForeFront's ForeHTML.

Summer 1996
Volume 3/Issue 2
2.8 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
Removing the Mystery (and Frustration) From Creating Online Graphics Hope for the "graphical.ly impaired". Whats in this issue?

Manager’s Moment
Product Impact … Affecting the Bottom Line Not enough time to document the project right. Convincing the product team that our processes help sell and eliminate problems in the product.

WinHelp "How To"
Taking a Byte Out of WinHelp Graphics How to create smaller, more effective WinHelp graphics.
Replacing SHED graphics Changing a graphic without redoing the hot spots.

Web "How To"
Developing Web Graphics for Quick Downloads Advice for creating Web graphics that download quickly.

Birds of a Feather
Fall WinHelp Conferences abuzz with HTML Information about the WinWriters and Help University conferences.
Tech Writer’s Web Yellow Pages List your services on the Oak Enterprises Web site.
D.C. Online Authors Form WinHelp SIG Formation of the D.C. metro WinHelp User Group.

PIC News
PIC Web Site is Up and Running! The new PIC Web site.
Introduce Yourself to the Managing Editor Soliciting feedback about HyperViews.
Enter the 1996-97 Online Communications Competition Explanation of the categories for the STC Online Communications Competition.

Tools, Trends, and Other Such Things
Netscape’s NetHelp Beta Available for Download Netscape's software development kit for creating HTML-based help, requires Netscape Navigator 3.0.
Cambridge Publications Offers Searchable Technical Communication Archives Discussion groups for Information development using Windows or Macintosh. 

Book Review
For Your Reading Pleasure: Selected Resources on Graphics Review the annotated bibliography of resources on graphics.

Software Review
PaintShop Pro For Windows 3.1, 95, and NT Discussion of the Features available in PaintShop Pro.

Spring 1996
Volume 2/Issue 1
1.7 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
Running to Stay in Place The changes on the Web in the last few years.

Manager’s Moment
HELPing You Find the Answers Topics covered at the 1996 annual STC conference.

Online Help Q&A
Polishing up Apple Guide Will Apple Guide become the WinHelp of the Apple world?

PIC Business
Results of the International Online Competition A listing by category of this years winners.

Fall 1995
Volume 1/Issue 4
2.7 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
Getting the Tools We Need Try to influence software developers to include Features that you want in the development tools of the future.

Manager’s Moment
All Great Things A letter of thanks to the members of the Online Information PIC.

WinHelp Q&A
Making the Web and WinHelp Into Buddies Converting from WinHelp to HTML is getting easier.

Glossary
Learn the Language of the World Wide Web A glossary of terms used on the Web.

Design Strategies
Where To Place Your Go-To Links Where should you place "go to" links in a hypertext document.

See Also
Microsoft Windows 95 Help Authoring Kit Describes the Help authoring kit.
Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in a Week Overview of Laura Lemay's book.

PIC Business
Under Construction: The Online PIC World Wide Web Page The status of the Online PIC's pages on the World Wide Web.

See Also
Creating Home Pages: The Beginner’s Guide to HTML Resources Lists of browsers, authoring tools, and documentation for designing and developing Web pages.

My Thoughts
World Wide Web Provides Challenge and Opportunity Use the Web to broaden your knowledge.

Summer 1995
Volume 1/Issue 3
2.3 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
The Place of Paper - The Economics of digital delivery.

Manager’s Moment
Ready? Set? Action? A summary of the planned activities and projects as well as a recap of the STC Annual Conference from the Online Information PIC perspective.

WinHelp Q&A
Choosing a Windows Help Authoring Tool Considerations for choosing a WinHelp authoring tool for your type of online development..

Design Strategies
How Long Is a Topic? What's the ideal topic length.

Project Management
Print vs. Online: When Do You Do Which? The strengths and weaknesses for print and online media.

STC Online Competition
Go for the Gold: Entering the International Online Communications Competition Why you should enter the online communications competition. 

See Also
Internet Windows Help Resources Lists of online Help resources including; mailing lists, news groups, World Wide Web, FTP sites, magazine articles, and other online services.

Spring 1995
Volume 1/Issue 2
2.1 MB PDF

Editor’s Corner
Getting It Right As you move online, take a look around. Be on the lookout for who has done it right.

Project Management
Making the Jump From Print to Online Documentation: A Case Study Moving from print to online and the challenges at Mentor Graphics Corporation.

Design Strategies
To Scroll or Not to Scroll: That is the Question Approaches to navigation options when developing online documentation.

STC Annual Conference
Online Sessions Are Plenty A listing of the 1995 annual conference sessions.

WinHelp Q&A
Saving User Annotations in WinHelp Files Information about user annotations, FAQs, full-text searching, and lots more.

See Also
Resources for Online Documentation Development Provides resource lists of articles, Magazines, Journals, Books, CDs, and Online Help authoring tools.

Winter 1994
Volume 1/Issue 1
279 KB HLP

Downloadable issue in .HLP format

Feature
Hypertext Markup Language and the World Wide Web The Web offers a variety of text formats, graphics, sound, and video objects
on multiple platforms, with an easy-to-use, point-and-click interface.

Feature
Tricks of the Trade Learn undocumented floating menu macros; how to correct bad organization in print material before moving it online; how to add multimedia files to WinHelp files; and WinHelp Technical Qs and As.

Book Review
Hypertext: The Convergence of Contemporary Critical Theory and Technology by George P. Landow This book was originally targeted at university professors engaged in literary and critical theory. So, what use can writers and developers of online information get from it? The reviewer's answer is "plenty."

Product Review
Doc-To-Help vs. RoboHELP Shootout! Comparison of the the two popular help authoring tools.