Developing a hypertext help system: a cooperative effort between a software developer and a technical writer

We developed Helplus*, a hypertext help application that runs under the X Window System on Hewlett Packard*, Sun*, and IBM RISC System/6000* workstations. Helplus is modelled after Microsoft Windows* help. Helplus is unusual for a help system because it is a server program that manages multiple help files concurrently, each in its own X window. These help files can be attached to applications and, therefore, invoked through the applications. However, they can also be invoked as stand-alone programs through Helplus. This means, in effect+ that one instance of Helplus can run multiple help files for applications, with or without the applications themselves running. Helplus can also be used to create and run a help file (or a hypertext file for some other purpose) as an independent application. For example, with only one instance of Helplus running, a user can have concurrent access to Helplus windows containing tutorials, orientation information, and other online information that may not be associated with a particular application.