SnipSVG and HelpXplain Updated
Posted by Alexander Halser on May 14, 2024
We are glad to announce the immediate availability of SnipSVG 1.3 and an updated version of HelpXplain.
SnipSVG got new object alignment functions (similar to HelpXplain, which already had them for quite a while) and both apps implement improved clipboard handling: when copying images to the clipboard, some programs (Microsoft Outlook, for instance) do not place the actual image on the clipboard, but a HTML fragment with an embedded picture. Both, SnipSVG and HelpXplain can now read and paste this format.
In SnipSVG, we have implemented a list of default sizes for social media postings. This app is ideal to create this kind of images, but you had to know the typical sizes by heart. The new helper function sets the picture frame to a dedicated size, so that your social media postings look perfect.
As a result of a dedicated picture frame size, we realized that it would be a good idea to implement object alignment functions. Normally, you move objects around and resize them as you like, then simply auto-size the picture frame. For a dedicated frame size, however, it is helpful to have the reverse option and move/resize objects to the picture frame. The six new arrangement options are implemented in the Edit > Arrange menu.
SnipSVG 1.3
- Can paste images from clipboard in HTML format
- Share to clipboard as PNG: if the picture had a transparent background, the PNG image on the clipboard was misinterpreted by some programs (resulting in a black background, not transparent)
- Share to HTML/RTF: when sharing an image with numbering tags, the numbering table used wrong symbols for tags > 10.
- Default sizes for social media postings implemented next to the picture width/height settings.
- Object alignment functions added in Edit > Arrange.
HelpXplain 1.8.3
- Can paste images from clipboard in HTML format
- (Object alignment functions were already implemented in earlier versions)
All updates are available from our download page.
Maintenance Updates in May
Posted by Alexander Halser on May 6, 2024
We are glad to announce the immediate availability of Help+Manual 9.5 and an updated Translation Assistant.
Help+Manual 9.5 comes with OCR
Reminder: Google Analytics switches off “UA” version
Posted by Alexander Halser on April 30, 2024
On July 1, 2024, Google Analytics 4 will have fully replaced the old “Universal Analytics”.
From that date, Google will begin turning off all Universal Analytics services and Universal Analytics APIs, which means Universal Analytics properties will be inaccessible through the Google Analytics front-end and APIs.
If you are using Google Analytics in Help+Manual’s and haven’t migrated to Google Analytics 4, it’s time for a change, because the old version will stop working on July 1. Read the rest of this entry »
BETA: eWriter Viewer v5 with Microsoft Edge
Posted by Alexander Halser on April 25, 2024
Many of you have been waiting for this, some asked for it. Here you go:
eWriter Viewer v5 with support for Microsoft Edge
This is a beta version! We ask you do download and try the redistributable package and report back any problems you might find.
Download:
https://www.helpandmanual.com/download/eviewer-v5-developer-redist.zip (beta)
Fast-Help Converter Released
Posted by Alexander Halser on April 2, 2024
In our effort to support the FastHelp user community and provide a smooth transition from FastHelp to Help+Manual, we have released a converter application for FastHelp.
The converter takes a FastHelp database and fully converts it into a Help+Manual project. The software retains all details including topics with conditional text, variables, links, images, hotspots, etc.
FastHelp to Help+Manual Converter
SnipSVG 1.2 Update
Posted by Alexander Halser on March 26, 2024
We are glad to announce the second update of SnipSVG, our new free screen capture and image editing tool for Windows and macOS!
SnipSVG uses SVG vector images as its primary format. SVG images can be used directly in HTML and many other applications. They give you the same sharp quality at all zoom settings, and unlike JPG or PNG images you can always edit all the elements of the image separately.
Changes in Version 1.2
- Picture crop: Border trim function implemented. The border trim crops an image by a fixed amount of pixels. This function is particularly useful to remove the visible 1-pixel border from Windows 11 screenshots. Windows 11 displays borders with a translucent color, so that the window background may shine through, resulting an a thin border line with mixed colors.
- File menu: the Close command got a keyboard shortcut – CTRL+W. This shortcut closes the current tab. To quickly close the current tab without being asked to save the changes, you can use the keyboard shortcut SHIFT+CTRL+W.
- Bugfix in Save-to-SVG: the plain text version of text objects and shapes with text exported the wrong text color. It had written the color code as “BGR” instead of “RGB” and this has affected all text that was not black, white or green.
Download
Please download SnipSVG from the SnipSVG homepage.
EC Software Acquires Fast-Help.com
Posted by Alexander Halser on March 21, 2024
We great pleasure we announce the acquisition of fast-help.com to continue support for the FastHelp user community. FastHelp is a software for multilingual technical documentation, originally developed by IT Training Academy Ltd in London, UK. EC Software strives to provide ongoing support for the FastHelp user community and a smooth transition of existing multilingual documentation projects. Read the rest of this entry »
SnipSVG 1.1 Update
Posted by Alexander Halser on March 13, 2024
We are glad to announce the first update of SnipSVG, our new free screen capture and image editing tool for Windows and macOS!
SnipSVG uses SVG vector images as its primary format. SVG images can be used directly in HTML and many other applications. They give you the same sharp quality at all zoom settings, and unlike JPG or PNG images you can always edit all the elements of the image separately.
SnipSVG for Windows and macOS
Changes in Version 1.1
- Windows version, minimize to tray: the option to save all tabs has been changed to “close all tabs”
- Load from SVG: bug fixes when reading numbering tags and text objects from SVG
- Share with numbering tags: numbering tags with labels use the label text for the description table
- Share as RTF with numbering tags: numbering table descriptions are black text (they had picked up the color of the numbering tag before)
- Paste from HelpXplain: paste of entire slides disabled, all pasted objects become unlocked and visible.
- Paste file link to an SVG file from clipboard created an error
- Toolbar Select button now not just ends insert mode, but clears selection as well
Download
Please download SnipSVG from the SnipSVG homepage.
Maintenance Updates: HelpXplain and Help+Manual
Posted by Alexander Halser on March 11, 2024
We are glad to announce the release of HelpXplain 1.8.2 and Help+Manual 9.4.2. If your maintenance plan includes the release date (March 11, 2024), this is a free update. The quickest way to find out, is to start HelpXplain/Help+Manual and click Help > Check for Update.
Help+Manual 9.4.2
- Picture Toggles: right-click context menu offers a “Picture >” entry with the commands Edit with external editor, Show in Explorer and Reload.
- HTML Export: role and scope attributes for table headers added. Single-cell tables such as toggle tables include the attribute role=”cell”. Table headers <th> tags include the attribute scope=”col” or scope=”colgroup” for multiple columns.
- HTML Export: compilation of .SNIPX prefers the local xplainCmd.exe over any installed version of HelpXplain.
- Screen Capture: SNIPX added as native save format for screenshots.
- Windows 10/11 long path names (> 260 characters) enabled in manifest file. Updated Webhelp export and updated HM2Go to support long path names.
HelpXplain 1.8.2
- Image Crop Tool: new rounded corners button implemented
- Powerpoint Import: German umlauts and some special characters were not converted correctly
Download
All updates are available from our download page. Download and install the update over your existing version.
Premium Pack 5.2 Update
Posted by tim green on March 4, 2024
This was originally planned to be a relatively small maintenance update, but the changes and improvements kept piling up so we have turned it into a full point update after all.
How to get the update:
You can download and install the update with the link and credentials you received when you purchased. If you no longer have these, just contact support by email and we will help you out.
See the rest of this post below the fold for full details on the update.