Using HTML Help
What is Active Accounting HTML Help?
It is a “context-sensitive” help system designed to present the user with help related directly to the portion of the Active Accounting program the user is currently using. This can be accomplished by pressing the F1 function key on the user’s keyboard at anytime while using Active Accounting. Presently the HTML Help system contains text and actual program screen graphics explaining how to use AA.
In the not too far distant future, multimedia effects may be incorporated within the help system where they are proven to enhance the users learning experience. These effects will include audio and video playback, and links to other programs for additional information, such as, Active PlayMaker. HTML Help will also offer embedded email and Internet links where appropriate.
How do I start the Active Accounting HTML Help System?
If the Active_Accounting.chm file has already been downloaded to the Active Accounting folder on your server, all network workstations will be able to access context sensitive help by pressing their F1 function key while using Active Accounting.
HTML Help also has the ability to run completely separate from Active Accounting. In this case instead of accessing help from within Active Accounting you would browse to the folder into which you saved the Active_Accounting.chm file and using your mouse double-click on this file name. The HTML Help program will start automatically. If you frequently use the HTML Help system in the manner, you will find it convenient to create an icon (shortcut) for your desktop whereby you can easily start the HTML Help system without all the ‘browsing’. To create a shortcut simply right mouse click on the file name and then left mouse click on “create shortcut” in the pop up menu. After the shortcut appears on the list, click on it and while holding your mouse button down, drag the newly created shortcut out onto your desktop. From now on you can simply double-click on the shortcut to start HTML Help.
Will Active Accounting HTML Help look familiar to me?
HTML Help resembles a web page in some respects minus those pesky advertisements of course. In fact, it uses the current language of the Internet that is, HTML. It closely follows the structure for on-line help systems advanced by Microsoft. This means it will already be familiar to most of you. You can move quickly to other topics and back again. More importantly you can easily follow your own train of thought by selecting the hyperlinks (blue colored underlined words or phrases) that will take you directly to the subject matter you believe will best serve your learning needs at the moment.
Most every topic begins with an overview that contains the bulk of the information relevant to that topic. As a general rule of thumb new users should investigate the topic overviews first. The overview may contain links to background and supportive information or perhaps more detailed information on a specific point of interest. The goal is to make information easy to obtain without crowding too much into one page.
How can I keep my version of Active Accounting HTML Help up to date?
Go out to the www.activeapplications.com support web site and click on the "Downloads" button you will find in the left margin of the 'Home' page. This will take you directly to the "Login" page where you will enter your username and password. Doing so will give you access to the "Downloads" page where you will find a link named Active Accounting HTML Help. When you get to the download page, simply click on this link to initiate the download process. The date next to the link will tell you how recently it was updated. Updated versions are placed out on this web site once a month or more. The download process asks you first if you would like to save the file to disk and you will answer, “OK”. Next you will specify the path to the folder and drive you want to save it. It is important to mention that you may download this as many times as you like to as many computers as you like. Download it to your home computer too, for instance. It runs on any system that uses Internet Explorer version 4.0 or more recent. Specify a path to the Active Accounting folder on your server if you would like all AA workstations to be able to access context sensitive help.
How do I use the Active Accounting HTML Help?
Using this help system is very intuitive so don’t hesitate to just jump in and try it. At the risk of making it sound complicated, a summary explanation is provided below:
The screen comes up with a left and right window displayed. The help text and graphics referred to as content, are displayed in the right window and deserves the major portion of the available space. If, for some reason you need to widen the left or right window, placing your pointer centered on the vertical dividing line will cause the pointer to change to a double pointed arrow. When this occurs you may depress your left mouse button and drag the vertical divider to the left or right in order to satisfy your need to reapportion the size of the left and right windows.
The left window can display three different lists; each under a tab you can select. The “Contents” tab displays a table of contents resembling a list of books. Each book with a Plus sign (+) to the left means it contains a number of related topics. Clicking once on the + sign or double-clicking on the book icon itself will display those topics. Clicking once on one of the topic names will display its’ corresponding help content in the right window. From this point on your are welcome to use the hyperlinks within the topic’s content to move around within the help system or select another topic or book from the table of contents list.
An important feature to mention is a “Back” arrow and “Forward” arrow in the upper left hand corner of the help system window that will allow the user to move backwards or forwards through recently viewed screens. This is handy and most users will already be familiar with this capability as it is also available with all Internet browsers.
The “Index” tab will display an alphabetically arranged list of topics broken down by category and function. Simply scan the list for the topic desired and click on the “display” button. The appropriate content will immediately be displayed in the right hand window.
The third and final tab “Search” allows the user to key in a keyword, display a list of topics containing that word, and then display the help content for the chosen topic and the keywords are highlighted within the topic for easy viewing.
To exit the program, simply click on the “x” in the upper right hand corner of the HTML Help window. The staff at UDS hope you find using this help system increasingly rewarding as it continues to be updated.
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