We RoboHelp users can often be accused of labelling “RoboHelp” as the only product we ever use. Even with the release of version 8 we still refer to RoboHelp 8. This is probably because it is the central tool we all use and because this is how it is marketed. But this could not be further from the truth.

“RoboHelp” is in fact part of the RoboHelp Office product that is itself a collection of applications useful to the technical authoring community. RoboHelp Office 8 is comprised of, amongst other things:

• RoboHelp for Word: An application that uses Microsoft Word as the editing environment. RoboHelp 8 offers support not to install this as it is rarely used these days.

• RoboHelp HTML: The application of choice of most RoboHelp Office users producing CHM, WebHelp, FlashHelp or other non-WinHelp output formats.

• RoboSourceControl: A built in source control application that can be installed if required. Source control applications are useful if you have a multi author environment or particular auditing requirements.

• RoboScreenCapture: An integrated tool capable of capturing windows or window elements from right inside your RoboHelp HTML topic.

There is also a collection of other applications as part of RoboHelp Office, some of which are really quite useful. I often feel they are somewhat hidden away in the Tools pod, or the Tools tab in versions before RoboHelp 7. This is a shame as many users are even aware of their existence. Among the available applications is the Resize tool for image resizing or HTML Help Studio that is an incredible time saver when the need for decompiling a CHM arises.

With the arrival of RoboHelp 7, things got a little more confusing as along came the Technical Communication Suite version 1. This provided the option not only to buy RoboHelp Office but additional Abobe products bundled together into an impressive suite providing just about everything a Technical Writer would need. It included RoboHelp 7, FrameMaker 8, Captivate 3 and Acrobat 3D.

At the same time as the RoboHelp 8 release, things changed still further with the arrival of Technical Communication Suite version 2. This bundle of Adobe applications includes new versions of RoboHelp, FrameMaker and Captivate as well as the addition of Photoshop CS4 and Presenter 7. Acrobat 3D is also replaced by Acrobat 9 Pro Extended. A truly feature packed bundle of software and so much more than a mere help authoring tool.